What is the role of the Charity Commission in England and Wales?

• A. It registers charities, supervises governance, and enforces charity law; it maintains the charity public register
• B. It accredits professional fundraisers
• C. It sets local council budgets
• D. It licenses charitable hospitals

Answer: (A)

The Charity Commission’s job is to regulate and register charities in England and Wales to protect public trust. It registers charities so each one has official status, keeps the public Charity Register with basic information about all charities, and oversees how charities are governed to ensure trustees comply with charity law. It also has powers to investigate and take action if a charity or its trustees mismanage resources.

This role isn’t about accrediting fundraisers, setting local council budgets, or licensing charitable hospitals, which are handled by other bodies or government functions. So the described combination—registering charities, supervising governance, enforcing charity law, and maintaining the public register—best fits the Charity Commission.