§ COLONEL MILWARD (Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Royal Commission upon Local Taxation has made an interim report upon the rating of clerical incomes derived from tithe; and whether the Government is able to afford any temporary relief to mitigate the hardship recognised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and by the vote of the House upon the 23rd March, 1897?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (SIR M. HICKS-BEACH,) Bristol, W.No report has been made. I see no means of affording any temporary relief, as suggested by the hon. Member. What I said at the time, to which he refers, was that there was a grievance in this matter, and that it would have to be dealt with as part of the great subject of local taxation. I held out no hope that it could be dealt with separately, unless a special report were made by the Royal Commission with regard to it.