Memorandum from Forum for the Future (DCH
244)
RESPONSE FROM
THE TRUSTEES
OF FORUM
FOR THE
FUTURE TO
THE DRAFT
CHARITIES BILL
Forum for the Future welcomes the draft Charities
Bill and is in agreement with the majority of its proposals.
We are very concerned however that the regulatory
objectives of the Charity Commission focus on "social and
economic impact" with no mention of impact on the environment
or on sustainability. The UK government has repeatedly stated
its commitment to sustainable development; fundamental to this
commitment is the need to address social, economic and environmental
impact at the same time. The Charities Bill itself recognises
environmental protection and improvement as a charitable purpose.
Any regulatory focus on social and economic impact, without regard
for environmental impact, would therefore be incomplete and inconsistent,
as well as incompatible with the government's larger commitment
to sustainable development. We urge that this clause be modified
to read "positive social, environmental and economic impact".
July 2004
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