Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Royal Albert Hall: Charity Tribunal

Thursday 1 July 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sharon Hodgson questioned the Attorney General about supporting the Charity Commission's request to refer the Royal Albert Hall to a charity tribunal.
  • The Attorney General noted that the disagreement between the Charity Commission and the Royal Albert Hall involves complex issues of charity law and ongoing resolution efforts.
  • The Attorney General stated they will act as a neutral umpire, awaiting the outcome of the current resolution process between the Royal Albert Hall and the Charity Commission.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Context

The Charity Commission has been in disagreement with the Royal Albert Hall over complex issues of charity law, which is ongoing. The questioner seeks clarity on whether the government will support this referral.

Question

If he will make it his policy to support the Charity Commission's request to refer the Royal Albert Hall to the charity tribunal.

Answer from Michael Ellis

The disagreement between the Charity Commission and the Royal Albert Hall is long-running and raises complex issues of charity law. The parties have been asked to try to resolve these issues without recourse to potentially costly litigation. That process is ongoing. My officials are continuing to engage with the parties to assist them in working through the contentious matters raised by this case.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to support Charity Commission's request was not explicitly given

How: Ongoing Process

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Q2 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Standards & Ethics
Context

The questioner highlights a significant markup on resale tickets for an Eric Clapton concert, owned by a party related to a vice-president of the corporation. The Attorney General expressed willingness to move towards resolution swiftly.

Question

Will he therefore take immediate action on this serious and clear conflict of interest at a British institution and permit the Charity Commission to take this to a tribunal?

Answer from Michael Ellis

The Royal Albert Hall and the Charity Commission have been working to try to resolve the matter that the hon. Lady refers to without recourse to litigation, and I am awaiting the outcome of that process. I will approach the matter as a neutral umpire, commensurate with my role as Attorney General and as parens patriae.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Immediate action not committed

How: Awaiting Process Outcome, Neutral Umpire

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