MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty which has arisen between the Rector of Llandegal, Denbighshire, and the parish council in reference to the custody of the tithe map; whether, seeing that the tithe maps are, under the Tithe Commutation Act 1836, to be kept with the public books, writings, and papers of the parish, a parish council has the right to direct, under Clause I7, sub-section (8), of the Local Government Act 1894, that the tithe map be deposited in a place of safety and accessible to the parishioners; and whether he will state whether the appeal to the county council referred to in the same section extends beyond the selection of a suitable place by the parish council for the custody of such documents?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordI have no information as to the particular case referred to except that which has been furnished to me by the hon. Member. It appears to the Board that the tithe maps are, under the Tithe Commutation Act 1836, to be kept with the public books, writings, and papers of the parish, and that the sub-section referred to in the Question therefore requires that they shall either remain in their existing custody or be deposited in such custody as the parish council may direct. If there be any difference as to whether these documents shall continue in their existing custody or should be deposited in some other custody in accordance with the directions of the parish council, the question may be referred to the county council for determination. The appeal to the county council under the sub-section would, it appears to me, apply not only to the custody of these maps, but to the question as to the access to them.