HC Deb 25 May 1891 vol 353 cc965-6
MR. MORTON (Peterborough)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether any tithepayer, wishing to be satisfied of the correctness of claims made under the new Tithe Act, and applying at the Office of the Board of Agriculture for information, is required to pay a fee of 2s. 6d. for every inspection of the tithe apportionment and map of the parish in which his property is situate; whether in such case he is allowed without any further payment to make extracts from the apportionment and tracings of his property from the map for purposes of identification and reference; whether, should his estate be in two or more adjoining parishes, an additional fee of 2s. 6d. is charged for each parish tithe apportionment inspected, though the visit is made On the same day and time; and whether the same rules as to the payment of fees for the inspection of tithe apportionments prevail throughout England and Wales at the parish vestries and diocesan registries, where copies of such apportionments are deposited, and to whom such fees are payable?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, Sleaford

The answer to the first and third paragraphs of the hon. Member's question is, yes. In reply to the second paragraph, the public are not themselves allowed to make extracts from the apportionments or tracings from the maps at the office of the Board, but extracts and tracings are supplied to those requiring them at a small cost. In reply to the last paragraph similar-rules as to the payment of fees for the inspection of the copies of the tithe apportionment and maps deposited in the respective parishes and diocesan registries prevail throughout England and Wales, such fees being payable to those having the custody of the maps and apportionments. The question of reducing the fees is under the considera-of the Board at the present moment.

MR. MORTON

With regard to paragraphs 1 and 3 of the question, will the right hon. Gentleman see that the fees are reduced?

MR. CHAPLIN

The question is now under consideration.