2011 No. 1726

Charities, England And Wales

The Charities Act 2006 (Principal Regulators of Exempt Charities) Regulations 2011

Made

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1

These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 10B(4) and (5) of the Charities Act 19931 and sections 13(4)(b) and (5) and 74(2) of the Charities Act 20062.

A draft of these Regulations has been laid before Parliament in accordance with section 74(5) of the Charities Act 2006 and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Accordingly, the Minister for the Cabinet Office makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencementI11

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Charities Act 2006 (Principal Regulators of Exempt Charities) Regulations 2011.

2

These Regulations come into force on 1st August 2011.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I1

Reg. 1 comes into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)

Appointment of principal regulator of exempt charities: maintained schools etc. in EnglandI22

The Secretary of State for Education is prescribed as the principal regulator of any exempt charity which is—

a

the governing body of a foundation, voluntary or foundation special school in England;

b

a foundation body for schools in England established under section 21 of the School Standards and Framework Act 19983;

c

an institution which—

i

is administered by or on behalf of a body to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies; and

ii

is established for the general purposes of, or for any special purpose of or in connection with that body or any foundation, voluntary or foundation special school or schools.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I2

Reg. 2 comes into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)

Appointment of principal regulator of exempt charities: maintained schools etc. in WalesI33

The Welsh Ministers are prescribed as the principal regulator of any exempt charity which is—

a

the governing body of a foundation, voluntary or foundation special school in Wales;

b

a foundation body for schools in Wales established under section 21 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998;

c

an institution which—

i

is administered by or on behalf of a body to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies; and

ii

is established for the general purposes of, or for any special purpose of or in connection with that body or any foundation, voluntary or foundation special school or schools.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I3

Reg. 3 comes into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)

Appointment of principal regulator of exempt charities: sixth form college corporationsI44

The Secretary of State for Education is prescribed as the principal regulator of any exempt charity which is a sixth form college corporation (within the meaning of the Further and Higher Education Act 19924).

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I4

Reg. 4 comes into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)

Appointment of principal regulator of exempt charities: academiesI55

The Secretary of State for Education is prescribed as the principal regulator of any exempt charity which is a qualifying Academy proprietor (within the meaning of section 12 of the Academies Act 20105).

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I5

Reg. 5 comes into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)

Definition of “responsible person”I66

1

In its application to the Secretary of State for Education as principal regulator of an exempt charity by virtue of these Regulations, section 10A of the Charities Act 1993 has effect as if, for the definition of “responsible person” in subsection (7), there were substituted—

  • “responsible person” means a person who is or was—

    1. a

      the Secretary of State for Education;

    2. b

      acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education; or

    3. c

      a member of a committee established by the Secretary of State for Education.

2

In its application to the Welsh Ministers as principal regulator of an exempt charity by virtue of these Regulations, section 10A of the Charities Act 1993 has effect as if, for the definition of “responsible person” in subsection (7), there were substituted—

  • “responsible person” means a person who is or was—

    1. a

      a Welsh Minister;

    2. b

      acting on behalf of the Welsh Ministers; or

    3. c

      a member of a committee established by the Welsh Ministers.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I6

Reg. 6 comes into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)

Amendment to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009I77

After section 71 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 20096 insert—

Assistance etc. in relation to functions of the principal regulator71A

1

The YPLA7 may provide assistance, information or advice to the Secretary of State in connection with the performance of the Secretary of State’s functions as principal regulator of an exempt charity (within the meaning of section 13 of the Charities Act 2006) which is—

a

a sixth form college corporation (within the meaning of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992); or

b

a qualifying Academy proprietor (within the meaning of section 12 of the Academies Act 2010).

2

The Secretary of State may provide information to the YPLA for the purpose of enabling or assisting the YPLA to discharge its functions under subsection (1).

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I7

Reg. 7 comes into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)

Amendment to the Education Act 1996I88

For section 537C of the Education Act 19968 substitute—

537CDisclosure of information by or to principal regulators of exempt charities

1

Nothing in any provision made by or under section 537, 537A or 537B requires or authorises the provision of information—

a

by the principal regulator of an exempt charity (within the meaning of section 13 of the Charities Act 2006), if the information was received by that principal regulator in its capacity as such; or

b

to the principal regulator of an exempt charity in its capacity as such.

2

Nothing in subsection (1) prevents the disclosure of information under section 10A of the Charities Act 1993.

Annotations:
Commencement Information
I8

Reg. 8 comes into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)

Nick HurdParliamentary SecretaryCabinet Office
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations prescribe, in relation to certain exempt charities, the body or Minister of the Crown which is to act as the principal regulator of those charities (regulations 2 to 5). Exempt charities are those charities comprised in Schedule 2 to the Charities Act 1993 (“the 1993 Act”). The principal regulator of an exempt charity must do all it or he reasonably can to meet the compliance objective specified in section 13 of the Charities Act 2006 in relation to that charity. The Secretary of State for Education is prescribed as the principal regulator of foundation, voluntary and foundation special schools in England, sixth form colleges and academies, and the Welsh Ministers are prescribed as the principal regulator of foundation, voluntary and foundation special schools in Wales.

Sections 10 and 10A of the 1993 Act, as applied by section 10B of that Act, regulate the disclosure of information by and to principal regulators. Specific rules apply under these provisions to the disclosure of Revenue and Customs information. A “responsible person” who discloses information contrary to those rules may be found guilty of an offence. These Regulations specify the definition of “responsible person” that applies in relation to each of the principal regulators prescribed by regulations 2 to 5 (regulation 6).

Regulation 7 makes amendments to enable the Young People’s Learning Agency for England to assist the Secretary of State for Education as principal regulator of sixth form colleges and academies, and regulation 8 makes amendments to disclosure provisions (within the meaning of section 10B of the 1993 Act).

A full impact assessment of the effect that these regulations will have on each group of exempt charities that is affected is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside these regulations on www.legislation.gov.uk.