§ MR. H. GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)asked the right hon. Baronet the Member for the Western Division of Essex, as an Ecclesiastical Commissioner, Whether it is true that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have applied to the Land Commissioners to direct the compulsory redemption of tithes in certain lands in the parish of Sawbridgnorth, Hertfordshire; whether the consequence of such action is that the owners of these lands are compelled to redeem at 25 times the amount of the apportioned tithe rent-charge; whether the present value of the £ 100 tithe rent-charge is £87 8s. 10d.; whether the proportion of the expenses payable in addition to the 25 years' redemption by the landowner does not in some cases practically raise the redemp- 944 tion to as much as 37 years' purchase; and, whether, in any compulsory redemption of tithe, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners will take into consideration the advisability of adopting as a maximum a period of 20 years' purchase, as suggested by the Tithe Rent-Charge Bill of Her Majesty's Government?
§ SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON (Essex, Epping)My answer to the first Question of the hon. Member is, Yes. My answer to the second is also, Yes. But we are compelled to act so by Statute under the 5th section of the Commutation Act, 1878. The value of the £100 is as stated in the Question. We have, as Commissioners, no cognizance of the expenses, which are entirely governed by the action of the Land Commission; and as regards the last Question, should the Tithe Bill pass, we shall be prepared to act upon its provisions, and adopt the term of years sanctioned by it. I may say that I understand that the tithe redemptions in Sawbridgnorth, which are few in number, are on the point of completion.