Ms Helen Martin:

It is one of the main measures included in the general scheme of the charities (amendment) Bill. Another major issue concerns the regulations for accounting and reporting. They are dependent on us having this change made with regard to companies. We cannot introduce regulations to require a level of transparency with regard to finances that would only apply to unincorporated charities and would not, therefore, apply to 60% of the charities on our register. We have to wait until this amendment comes into force before we can introduce the regulations that, for example, would introduce something like the charities statement of recommended practice or SORP. This is a statement of recommended practice for charities that would require charities with a certain level of income to give far greater detail in their financial statements that is currently the case.