Public benefit guidance needs tidying up, according to lawyers

By Emilie Filou, Third Sector, 23 January 2008

Lawyers have urged the Charity Commission to use its forthcoming draft guidance on how the public benefit test applies to fee-charging charities to address issues they claim are still outstanding.

The commission's general guidance, published last week ( Third Sector , 16 January), says charities must provide an "identifiable benefit" and that the benefit must be "to the public, or a section of the public". It also addresses potential restrictions on public benefit, such as charities charging fees. Lawyers welcomed...