MR. FITZ-PATRICKasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, having regard to the facts that the tithe rent-charge was made a charge upon land by the Tithe Composition Act of 1838, and was supposed to be covered by the rent paid by the tenant, and to the further fact that, by the proposed Arrears Bill, the landlord will be obliged to forego one or more year's rent, on which the instilments payable to the Church Temporalities Commissioners (representing such tithe rent-charge) have been already paid, it is intended to make any allowance to the landlords for the loss which they will suffer by having paid these instilments upon rent which they have never received, and which they will now be forced to forgive.
MR. GLADSTONESir, I do not know what facts may be in the possession of the hon. Gentleman; but no facts have been brought before us in a shape to enable us to form any judgment upon the question. But I would venture to suggest that the hon. Member, if he is in communication with the parties concerned, should supply the Government with the exact particulars in order that Ministers may be enabled to give an official opinion on the subject.