§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONI beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can inform the House what is the number of chapels meeting houses, and premises exclusively appropriated to public religious worship, and duly certified for the performance of such religious worship, which under the provisions of the 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 30, are exempted from rates; and whether the Government will consider the expediency of extending a similar exemption from rateability to elementary schools for public instruction?
§ MR. H. H. FOWLERI am informed by the Registrar General that on the 31st December last 27,767 buildings were on the register, as certified by him for religious worship. It is probable, however, that in some cases the buildings are no longer used for this purpose, although they remain on the register in consequence of their disuse not having been reported. The great majority of the buildings, there can be no doubt, are exclusively appropriated to public worship and exempt from rates, but I am unable to give the precise number. The Government are not prepared at present to make any proposals to Parliament extending exemption from rateability.