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1203569

registered interest
date	15/06/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 17 March (HL2334), when they first became aware of a request from a relative of the donor to return the money in the National Fund to the family; and whether they intend to make any change to the Attorney General's application to release the funds as a result.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL5676
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>In October 2019 the Attorney General’s Office was contacted by representatives of an individual who claimed to be a descendent of the anonymous donor that established the National Fund. They also claimed that the trust was void ab initio and that unless the court finds that the donor had a “paramount charitable intent”, the Fund belongs to his residuary estate.</p><p> </p><p>The individual subsequently applied to join the proceedings initiated by the Attorney General in May 2018, in order to represent the interests of all persons who are or may be or become entitled to share in the residuary estate of the donor. In January 2020 the Court ordered that this individual be joined to the proceedings and that they serve evidence in support of their claim.</p><p> </p><p>The Attorney General remains of the view that the trust establishing the National Fund is valid and its purposes exclusively charitable.</p><p> </p><p>It is now for the High Court to determine the individual’s claims and decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied as sought by the Attorney General. If the Attorney General’s application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>The hearing in the High Court is scheduled for October 2020.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 29/06/2020 11:16:41 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1183431

registered interest
date	09/03/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 14 March 2019 (HL14162), what was the outcome of the Attorney General’s application to the High Court on 22 May 2018 to release the assets of the National Fund; and whether that charity’s up-to-date accounts have been filed with the Charity Commission.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL2334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.</p><p> </p><p>On 22 May 2018 the then Attorney General made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>The hearing in the High Court is scheduled for October 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The website of the Charity Commission indicates that the accounts of the National Fund for 05 April 2019 are overdue.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 17/03/2020 11:36:50 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1179861

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take, if any, in regard to the National Fund.
tabling member printed	Lord De Mauley
uin	HL1729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2020 answer text <p>The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.</p><p> </p><p>On 22 May 2018 my predecessor made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.</p><p> </p><p>A hearing of the claim is due to take place in October.</p><p /><p /> <p> </p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 05/03/2020 12:24:53 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	2202 label Biography information for Lord De Mauley

1079618

registered interest
date	01/03/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they hold information about the identity of the donor who set up the National Fund.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL14160
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The National Fund was set up by a trust deed in 1928. The Fund is held on trust for the purpose of reducing the National Debt.</p><p>The 1928 deed does not record who the founder was, and it is apparent from accompanying documents that they wished to remain anonymous.</p><p>Her Majesty’s Government therefore does not hold information about the identity of the donor who set up the Fund.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 14/03/2019 17:12:40 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

1079620

registered interest
date	01/03/2019
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Attorney General’s application to the High Court to release the assets of the National Fund has now been concluded; and if so, how those assets are shown in HM Treasury’s accounts.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
uin	HL14162
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2019 answer text <p>The National Fund was set up by a trust deed in 1928. The Fund is held on trust for the purpose of reducing the National Debt. According to expert evidence, there is no realistic prospect of the Fund ever amounting to a sum sufficient to pay off the whole of the National Debt.</p><p>The application made by the then Attorney General to the High Court on 22nd May 2018, to release the assets of the National Fund in order to pay down national debt, has not yet concluded. In February 2019 the High Court Listing Officer allocated a three day hearing during a five day window starting on 18 November 2019.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 14/03/2019 17:10:09 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4159 label Biography information for Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

999131

registered interest
date	31/10/2018
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 23rd July 2018 to Question 165033 on the National Fund, whether he has received a hearing date from the High Court on his application to release the money held by the National Fund.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	186228
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2018 answer text <p>The National Fund was set up by a trust deed in 1928. The Fund is held on trust for the purpose of reducing the National Debt. According to expert evidence, there is no realistic prospect of the Fund ever amounting to a sum sufficient to pay off the whole of the National Debt. On 22<sup>nd</sup> May 2018 the former Attorney General made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust.</p><p>While we expect the substantive hearing to take place in 2019, we have not yet received a hearing date from the High Court.</p> answering member constituency South Swindon answering member printed Robert Buckland question first answered 05/11/2018 14:23:55 answering member 4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

942982

registered interest
date	17/07/2018
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will seek the release of money from the National Fund in order to set up a fund for good causes.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
uin	165032
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2018 answer text <p>The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.</p><p>On 22 May 2018 my predecessor made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt.</p><p>It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.</p><p>I consider that applying the fund in reduction of the national debt is the correct approach. This approach maintains the original charitable purpose of the national fund, namely the reduction of the national debt and it honours the original intention of the donors as a result of whose generosity the fund exists.</p><p>We await a hearing date from the High Court.</p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox grouped question UIN 165033 question first answered 23/07/2018 09:29:57 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

942984

registered interest
date	17/07/2018
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what progress he has made in his application to the High Court to release the money held by the National Fund.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
uin	165033
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2018 answer text <p>The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.</p><p>On 22 May 2018 my predecessor made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt.</p><p>It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.</p><p>I consider that applying the fund in reduction of the national debt is the correct approach. This approach maintains the original charitable purpose of the national fund, namely the reduction of the national debt and it honours the original intention of the donors as a result of whose generosity the fund exists.</p><p>We await a hearing date from the High Court.</p> answering member constituency Torridge and West Devon answering member printed Mr Geoffrey Cox grouped question UIN 165032 question first answered 23/07/2018 09:29:57 answering member 1508 label Biography information for Sir Geoffrey Cox
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

896403

registered interest
date	02/05/2018
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, if he will make it his policy to disburse the monies held by the National Fund to good causes.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
uin	140746
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2018 answer text <p>The National Fund was set up by a trust deed in 1928. It is a charitable trust. The Fund is held on trust for the purpose of reducing the National Debt. The trustee is required to accumulate the income of the fund, and not to pay out any funds until the value of the Fund is sufficient to discharge the National Debt; the value of the Fund will continue to grow until such time as it is equal in value to the National Debt. According to expert evidence, there is no realistic prospect of the Fund ever amounting to a sum sufficient to pay off the whole of the National Debt. The question then arises: what actions can be taken to release the funds from the trust?</p><p>The intentions and wishes of the person who originally set up the Fund, which were to discharge the National Debt, must be respected and borne closely in mind when considering this legally complicated issue.</p><p>I have been working closely with the trustee of the Fund and the Charity Commission to resolve this issue. I will be able to provide an update on actions I will be taking regarding the future of the Fund shortly.</p> answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright question first answered 09/05/2018 08:02:35 answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

896406

registered interest
date	02/05/2018
answering body	Attorney General
answering dept id	88
answering dept short name	Attorney General
answering dept sort name	Attorney General
hansard heading	National Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Attorney General, what restrictions are in place to prevent the National Fund being freed for use for good causes.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
uin	140747
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 May 2018 to his Question 140746.</p> answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright question first answered 09/05/2018 08:02:59 answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed