HC Deb 20 March 1893 vol 10 cc519-20
MR. SETON-KARR (St. Helen's)

I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a question of which I have given him private notice. It is whether he will assent to a Return showing what sums of money or their equivalent have been given by the State or derived from Imperial sources for the purpose of endowing in any way, directly or indirectly, the Established Church in Great Britain, distinguishing the particular sources from whence such sums of money or their equivalent have been derived, and whether they have been given to the Established Church in England, in Scotland, or in Wales? I ask the question because a Return granted on February 23 last approaches to, but does not cover, the ground of my Motion.

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

I am bound to say that if I interpret aright the words of the Motion it appears to me to be very difficult to say whether that would cover the whole ground. It is so wide that it would involve an inquiry which is more likely to occupy years than months, for the whole of the learning on the extremely dark and complex history of the original endowments of the Church in this country and Scotland would have to be investigated. I remember when I was younger, and had more time for attacking tough problems than I have now, that I spent a good many weeks in reading Selden on the subject, and the hon. Gentleman will find that Selden only supplies a portion of the matter. Putting it into its simplest form, it is still an extremely complex and difficult matter on which the opinions of learned persons have always been divided. If a Return can be prepared, I have not the slightest objection to its being presented to the House, and the more clearly the better, but the words of the hon. Member do not seem to be suitable.

MR. SETON-KARR

I beg to ask whether, in view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman expressly stated in a letter to a correspondent last December that the Church of England received no assistance——[Cries of "Order!"]

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Gentleman must see that notice should be given of a question of that kind.