Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will request from the Bank Of England an explanation of how tea with its Governor was permitted and advertised at the Presidents Club as an auction item; and if he will make a statement.

The Bank of England issued a statement on 24 January which confirmed that the Bank was not aware of the Presidents Club Dinner and did not approve any prize for auction at the event. The Bank has had no contact at any point with the Presidents Club or any of the organisers of the event. No member of Bank staff attended the dinner on 18 January.

The Bank did not approve or donate any prize for auction at the event on 18 January. Support for third party fundraisers is prohibited under the Bank’s policy for charitable donations. The Bank have made its policy available at the following link: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/about/human-resources/charitable-giving-and-inclusion.pdf.

The unauthorised re-auctioning of the prize at the Presidents Club dinner was against the spirit of the original donation. The Bank has therefore made clear that it has been withdrawn.