POOR RATES—3 & 4 WILL. IV. c. 30— EXEMPTION OF CHAPELS, &c. IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

HC Deb 23 April 1885 vol 297 cc469-70

MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he will direct a Return to be made giving the number, denomination, and locality of the chapels, meeting houses, and premises (other than those of the Church of England) in England and Wales, which are exempted by the 3 and 4 Will. 4, c. 30, from assessment to poor rates, on the ground that they— Are exclusively appropriated to public religious worship, and are duly certified for the performance of such religious worship according to the provision of any Act or Acts now in force?

MR. GEORGE RUSSELL

The particulars required for a Return, such as that proposed, could only be furnished by the overseers of the poor of the several parishes in England and Wales. This would involve the obtaining of about 15,000 Returns. The difficulty, trouble, and expense attending the obtaining and compilation of the Returns, irrespective of the cost of printing, would be so considerable that we are not prepared to direct that a Return shall be made as suggested.