PENDLE BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (No. 2)

Early day motion 812, tabled 8 February 2010 by Gordon Prentice (Labour). Signed by 8 members.

That this House notes with approval that plans for a 5,000 place boarding school for Muslim girls at Brierfield Mills have been blocked by the Charity Commission, which has ruled that it is not within the charitable objects of the Birmingham-based Islamic Help to raise money for such a purpose; is reminded that the charity's focus is disaster relief; further notes that Islamic Help has been ordered to return the money raised from its appeal for funds to all those who donated and expects this to be reported prominently on its website; is informed that donations made anonymously will go into a special pot which cannot be used for another purpose without the express permission of the Charity Commission; notes that the fundraising appeal has now been removed from Islamic Help's website; further notes with incredulity the explanation from the charity that the £10,000 reportedly raised by the appeal to date has not been applied in furtherance of the boarding school project; believes that £650,000 of the £1,020,000 plus value added tax purchase price came in the form of a loan from Lloyds TSB with the balance allegedly coming from pledges and backdated gift aid; and calls for a full audit of the finances of Islamic Help and the continued involvement of the Charity Commission in its supervision and oversight.

Signatures by party: Labour 8.