THE EARL OF SHAFTESBUEYsaid, he wished to put a Question to his noble Friend who represented the Home Office in their Lordships' House. On the 5th of May last he moved for certain Returns relating to ecclesiastical fees, and the purposes to which they were devoted. He regarded those Returns as of considerable importance, and was anxious for their production as soon as possible; but, though three months had elapsed since they were ordered, they were not yet forthcoming. He hoped the Home Office would give him its assistance in the matter, for he recollected that Returns 846 moved for by him in 1871 were delayed until the end of the Session, and the result was that he was not able to bring forward a Bill which he had intended to found upon those Returns. He was very much afraid, therefore, that if pressure were not put on by the Home Office their Lordships would not have the Returns ordered on the 5th of May last at the beginning of the next Session, so that the statistics could be tabulated and the results made known. He wished to ask his noble Friend whether there was any hope of those Returns, and, if so, when they might be expected.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPsaid, that on the 7th of May, letters were sent out from the Home Office requesting the Archbishops to take steps to have the Returns sent in. A few days ago a letter was received from the Secretary of the Archbishop of Canterbury stating that only very few answers had been sent by those who must be looked to for the Returns. He could assure the noble Earl that as far as it could do so the Home Office would take care that there was no unnecessary delay. The Returns asked for were very minute and elaborate, but one would have expected that in three months a great deal might have been done towards making them out. He had no doubt that the Question of the noble Earl would prove a useful reminder.