Edward Miliband (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Cabinet Office; Doncaster North, Labour)

I beg to move amendmentNo. 191, in clause 73, page 78, line 16, at end insert—

‘(ba) any regulations under section (Disclosure of information to and by Northern Ireland regulator),’.

Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Government amendments Nos. 192, 194 to 199 and 193.

Government new clause 14—Disclosure of information to and by Northern Ireland regulator.

Edward Miliband (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Cabinet Office; Doncaster North, Labour)

The amendments are relatively technical. I apologise to the Committee for their late tabling on Tuesday. We have tried to avoid tabling bundles of amendments at the last minute, but it took longer to prepare these amendments than I had hoped. I shall briefly explain what they will do.

The revised version of section 10 of the Charities Act 1993 provides for the disclosure of information to and by the Charity Commission. It includes specific provisions relating to the exchange of information by the commissioners for Revenue and Customs.

The purpose of the Government amendments is fourfold. First, they will modernise the information-sharing gateway between the commissioners for Revenue and Customs and the Charity Commission to reflect changes to the way in which HMRC wishes to disclose information following the passing of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005. Secondly, the amendments will extend the gateway for the sharing of information, including Revenue and Customs information, to principal regulators of exempt charities. Thirdly, they make provision for sharing of information including commissioners of Revenue and Customs’ information with the proposed regulator of charities in Northern Ireland. Finally, they make some minor changes to the rules governing  disclosure of other information to and by the Charity Commission. I hope that that brief explanation satisfies the Committee.

Peter Bottomley (Worthing West, Conservative)

I am sure that what the Minister has outlined makes sense. I congratulate peopleon spotting one or two of the moves from “commissioners” to “commission”, which are a consequence of earlier parts of the Bill.

Is Government new clause 14 precedented? The Minister will know that it relates to the provision whereby, if a charity commission in Northern Ireland is established, various other things happen. I can see the reason for the new clause, and it makes sense, but is it a legislative innovation?

Edward Miliband (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Cabinet Office; Doncaster North, Labour)

I gather that it is not a legislative innovation.