Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the recent case of Gary Mond, what steps they are taking to ensure that the Charity Commission is respecting the right to free speech.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Charity Commission’s role as the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales is to ensure that charity trustees comply with their duties as set out in charity law. The Charity Commission has published guidance for trustees on the use of social media and managing the risks for charities.
The Charity Commission notes the Tribunal’s judgment in this recent case, and is considering what lessons can be applied to future casework.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many trustees of charities have been disqualified by the Charity Commission on account of social media posts in each of the last five years.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In the last five years, the Charity Commission has disqualified six individuals in cases that relate to the usage of social media. An individual’s use of social media was the sole basis for disqualification in three cases, while in the other three it was one of several grounds.
The Commission’s decisions to disqualify are subject to robust oversight and can be appealed through review by an independent member of Commission staff, and subsequently to the First Tier Tribunal.
The Charity Commission is independent from the Government in its regulatory decision making.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue or replace the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme beyond its expiry date in March 2025.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Departmental settlements have been set following the Budget announcement on October 30. Individual programmes will now be assessed during the departmental Business Planning process.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the removal of COVID-19 restrictions in England, what plans the Royal Parks have to reopen the South Carriage Drive in Hyde Park to vehicular traffic.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
The Royal Parks charity manages Hyde Park on behalf of HM Government, and is responsible for decision-making about operational matters.
This is an operational matter for The Royal Parks. We understand, however, that South Carriage Drive has been closed since March 2020 as part of a trial to reduce through traffic in Hyde Park. Whilst the original trial was focused on weekend restrictions, the road has also been closed for safety reasons on weekdays during this period due to the introduction of a temporary cycle path, immediately outside the park, by Transport for London.
We understand that The Royal Parks is currently assessing evidence of the trial on the weekend restrictions, and plans to make an announcement about the closure later this year.