Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of using the Charity Commission Section 72 mechanism to consolidate the five Acts of Parliament governing the Malvern Hills Trust into one new piece of legislation.

Where a charity is established or governed by statute, its governing Act(s) of Parliament can be amended by a scheme made by the Charity Commission under section 73 of the Charities Act 2011. Such a scheme is given effect by a Statutory Instrument, subject to Parliamentary approval. This procedure is considered to be simpler, cheaper and quicker than pursuing a new Private Bill to make the changes.

My officials have held constructive discussions with the Charity Commission and the Malvern Hills Trust, which is seeking a scheme under section 73 of the Charities Act 2011 to modernise and consolidate its governance provisions. The Trust is currently consulting on its proposals.