Overview

The Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill aims to clarify and improve the process of using funds from dormant bank and building society accounts for charitable purposes. Amendments made by the House of Lords refine the Treasury's powers regarding these funds, ensuring greater parliamentary oversight and scrutiny.

Description

This bill focuses on amending the existing legislation governing the use of dormant bank and building society accounts. Key amendments include:

• Clause 5 Amendment: Requires the Treasury to report to Parliament on any directions given regarding the use of dormant account funds.
• Clause 11 Amendment: Grants the Treasury the power to adjust the threshold for defining a dormant account. This power, however, is subject to parliamentary approval via a resolution in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords ensuring greater oversight.

The amendments primarily aim to increase transparency and accountability in the management and allocation of funds from dormant accounts.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not directly involve government spending. Instead, it concerns the management and distribution of funds already held in dormant bank and building society accounts. Any effect on government spending would be indirect and dependent on the Treasury's decisions regarding the allocation of these funds.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• The Treasury: Their powers regarding the management of dormant account funds are amended, increasing their accountability to Parliament.
• Charities: The bill indirectly impacts charities, as it governs the distribution of funds from dormant accounts to charitable causes. The amendments could potentially lead to changes in funding for some.
• Parliament: Parliament gains increased oversight over the use of dormant account funds through the reporting requirements and parliamentary approval process for adjustments to the threshold defining a dormant account.

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