§ COLONEL SANDYS (Lancashire, S.W., Bootle)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is the fact that the Clergy Discipline (Immorality) Bill is intended to revive the criminal jurisdiction of the Bishops' local Diocesan Consistory Courts, which was abolished by the Church Discipline Act, 1850?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.The Clergy Discipline Bill is in no way intended to revive any criminal jurisdiction of the Bishops' local Diocesan Consistory Courts, but merely to simplify the existing practice, and to remedy certain defects which have prevented the efficient administration of the existing law.