§ MR. BLACKsaid, he wished to ask the Lord Advocate if he is prepared to bring in a Bill to relieve the towns of Scotland now subject to the Annuity Tax for payment of the Stipends of the Ministers of the Established Church; if he will provide the same relief for Scotland as the Secretary of State for the Home Department proposes to give to England in the case of church rates, namely:—
That when the rate has been imposed the collector shall take round certain papers, one of 1054 which shall contain a form wherein a person may simply declare that he conscientiously objects to the payment of this rate; and whoever makes this declaration shall be exempted, and be from that time free from the obligation of paying the charge, and shall consequently take no part in vestry meetings until he consents to pay some rate.If he would bring in his Bill on an early day?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEsaid, that in answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, he had to say that the matter was under the consideration of the Government, with a view to seeing whether they could apply a remedy; but he was not at that time prepared to say that any Bill on the subject would be introduced. In reference to the second part of the Question, he could not at present state the course the Government intended to pursue, and consequently he could not name an early day for bringing in such a Bill as that referred to by the hon. Member.