Foundation for Business Responsibilities

Inquiry

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Charity Commission investigated payments to Efficiency in Local Government Ltd. from the Foundation for Business Responsibilities as part of its inquiries into the foundation. [18095]

Mr. Sackville: The Charity Commission has not carried out any such investigation.

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of state for the Home Department on what dates the Charity Commission's second inquiry into the payments by the Foundation for Business Responsibilities to Marketforce Communications (a) began and (b) ended; when the Charity Commission received the list of donors to the foundation; if he will make a statement on the Charity Commission's access to the research projects and leaflets which were produced by Marketforce Communications on behalf of the Foundation for Business Responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the activities of the Foundation for Business Responsibilities since 1992. [18201]

Mr. Sackville [holding answer 29 February 1996]: The Charity Commission's second inquiry began on 18 November 1993 and ended on 31 March 1995. It is regretted that the answer given to the hon. Member on 13 July 1995, Official Report, columns 697-98, mistakenly referred to this as a period of four and a half months. A list of donors to the foundation was received by the commission on 23 December 1991. The commission has a copy of one leaflet produced by Marketforce Communications Ltd., which was provided in connection with the first inquiry. It is understood that, since 1992, the foundation has been involved in the sponsorship of and participation in research and educational activities covering subjects such as health issues of employees, insider trading, business ethics and responsible global marketing.