CHARITY COMMISSION
News Release (13/08) issued by The Government News Network on 28
March 2008
The Charity
Commission, the independent regulator for charities in England and
Wales, has welcomed amendments to the Housing and Regeneration Bill.
In February, the Commission raised concerns relating to proposals
in the Bill to establish a new regulator with the power to set
compulsory standards for providers of social housing -
specifically that this could undermine the independence of some
charities and force them into activities that could ultimately
lead to the loss of their charitable status.
The new amendments were tabled by the Government earlier this
week in advance of further debate on the Bill due to take place
next Monday (31 March) in the House of Commons. Taken together,
the amendments would mean that the new regulator would now need to
consult the Charity Commission on the implications of any new
standards for charitable housing associations, giving the
Commission an opportunity to identify any proposals that were
incompatible with charity law.
Rosie Chapman, Director for Policy and Effectiveness for the
Charity Commission, said:
"We very much welcome these
amendments, and appreciate the helpful discussions with the
Department for Communities and Local Government that have led to
them. The proposed amendments would have no impact on the
effectiveness of the new regulator, but would ensure that the
independence of charitable housing associations is not undermined."
Notes to editors:
1. There are 1400 charitable Registered
Social Landlords (housing associations) which make up two thirds
of the social landlords registered with the Housing
Corporation.
2. The Charity Commission is the independent
regulator for charitable activity in England and Wales. For more
information see our website at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk
For more information please call Chris Kiggell on 020 7673 2332