Charities Bill [HL]

My Lords, it is almost embarrassing to rise again in defence of two little words. I say ““almost embarrassing””; I would find it truly embarrassing if I had to rise and attack these two little words, or not accept them, in the Bill. Fortunately that is not my position. I shall speak only to Amendment No. 15. My position is that I find it perfectly possible to accept the Government’s arguments as set out in a letter which the Minister sent to me and others on 11 July 2005, and yet believe that it would make sense to include the words ““fair and reasonable””, because I ask myself one simple question: whose perception matters most in this regard? In my view what matters most is the perception of charities and their trustees and supporters, and notably of smaller charities. If they feel—and they do feel—that it would help them to have the support of the law by the inclusion of the words ““fair and reasonable”” then I cannot see any overriding argument not to do so. I would regret it very much if we did not manage or make it possible at this late hour—late not in terms of the day today, but in terms of the debate of this legislation—to make this step towards the understandable perceptions of especially smaller charities. I support the amendment.