Dear Sir or Madam,

This request is in regard to the United Reformed Church Trust
(excepted charitable company, company number 135934) and the
related charities such as the United Reformed Church (Wessex) Trust
Limited (charity number 282729).

Could you please answer the following questions:

1 Has a document called the "Scheme of Union of the United Reformed
Church" been shown to the Charity Commission within the last 24
months, upon the Commission's request to the said charities?

2 Was such document, the "Scheme of Union", simply a bound copy of
the "Basis of Union", the "Structure of the United Reformed
Church", and the United Reformed Church Act 1972 (a local act of
Parliament)?; and

3 Were the "Basis of Union" and the "Structure" shown to the
Commission as they stood in 1972, unamended; or were they a later,
amended version?

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Dr Kaihsu Tai

Dear Madam or Sir,

I sent you a Freedom of Information request on 22 July 2008 asking
the following questions:

'1 Has a document called the "Scheme of Union of the United
Reformed Church" been shown to the Charity Commission within the
last 24 months, upon the Commission's request to the said
charities?

2 Was such document, the "Scheme of Union", simply a bound copy of
the "Basis of Union", the "Structure of the United Reformed
Church", and the United Reformed Church Act 1972 (a local act of
Parliament)?; and

3 Were the "Basis of Union" and the "Structure" shown to the
Commission as they stood in 1972, unamended; or were they a later,
amended version?'

Section 10(1) of Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) provides
that "Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a public authority must
comply with section 1(1) promptly and in any event not later than
the twentieth working day following the date of receipt."
Therefore, I am entitled to your response immediately, and now
expect it by Friday 22 August 2008.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dr Kaihsu Tai

Thank you for your email to the Charity Commission.

We aim to give you a full and clear response within fifteen working days
from receipt of your email. We will ensure that our response is both
accurate and appropriate.

This is the same service standard we apply to letters and faxes but
Charity Commission Direct will usually respond to general email
enquiries within five working days where there is no need for referral
to one of our specialist operational teams.

If we cannot give you a full response within fifteen days, we will
contact you and let you know the reasons why this is not possible and
indicate when we expect to be in a position to give you a full response.
We will also let you have the name and contact number of the person
dealing with your query.

You can find the Commission's contact details on our website at
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/...
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show quoted sections

Dear Dr Tai,

Thank you for your email request of 21st August.

There is no record of the Charity Commission requesting sight of the
document you refer to within the last 24 months. On that basis I cannot
answer your questions 2 and 3.

Yours sincerely

Tony Robinson

Charity Commission Direct - Caseworking Team

t: 0845 300 0218

f: 0151 703 1555

e: If replying on this issue: [email address] or for
new issues: [Charity Commission for England and Wales request email]
<mailto:issues[Charity Commission for England and Wales request email]>

a: PO Box 1227, Liverpool, L69 3UG

------------------- Original Message

show quoted sections

Dear Dr Tai

I write further to your Freedom of Information request as colleagues realised I might have more information to add.

The Charity Commission does not regulate the United Reformed Church. It does have a role in respect of any charitable assets that the church holds.

In connection with the forthcoming requirement for charities connected with the URC that have an income over £100,000 needing to register from January 2009 onwards we have had some discussions with the church. We have been signposted to the latest version of the Scheme of Union on the URC web-site in connection with discussions about the identity of the charity trustees of various assets.

So, whilst it is correct to say we have not specifically requested sight of the document we are aware of its existence, the gist of its contents as far as the identity of charity trustees is concerned, and of the location of the latest version of it.

Yours sincerely
J Cox
Registration Unit

Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

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Dear Judith (and Tony),

I thank you for your further clarification. I am pleased to confirm
that I have received all the information I need.

Sincerely,

Kaihsu Tai