The Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood MLA attended the meeting of the Social Development Committee on 9 December to brief the Committee on the proposed amendment to section 3 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, which addresses the technical issue surrounding the Public Benefit Test.

The Minister now intends to seek approval from the Executive at its meeting of 16 December for the introduction of a Charities Amendment Bill to the Assembly and to seek support for its accelerated passage. The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland will not be able to begin the process of registering charities unless and until Royal Assent for the Bill has been received.