§ COLONEL LOCKWOOD (Essex, Epping)I beg to ask the honourable Member for West Salford, as Ecclesiastical Commissioner, if the Ecclesiastical Commissioners take great tithes from some 609 parishes to such an extent as to leave the incumbents of those parishes with a less income than £200 a year; and if the Commissioners of Queen Anne's Bounty are in the habit of demanding a tenth and firstfruits from livings under £200 a year?
THE PARLIAMENTARY ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONER (Mr. LEES KNOWLBB,) Salford, W.In answer to the first part of the Question, the practice of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in dealing with parishes from which they have derived revenue is, speaking generally, to raise the income of benefices in public patronage with a population of 500 and upwards to the value of £300 a year before distributing the surplus revenues elsewhere. Owing to depreciation in the value of tithe rent charge and agricultural land the income of many benefices thus augmented has suffered diminution. The original augmentation was made upon the basis of the income which the benefice then possessed. It is not possible for the Commissioners at the present time to readjust such incomes in order to raise them again to the amount then provided-It should be remembered that the Common Fund of the Commissioners is derived from property in different parishes, together with dividends and interest upon investments. The surplus of this fund is the only source from, which they can make grants to augment poor benefices, and to provide for the needs of great and growing centres of population. With regard to the second part of the Question, I am unable to state what is the practice of the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty.
§ COLONEL LOCKWOODWhat is the amount per annum granted on the ground of "local claim"?
§ MR. LEES KNOWLESOut of augmentations amounting to a total annual value of £817,000, about £431,000 has been granted on the ground of "local claim," and the remaining £386,000 to endow new districts and cures with large populations and to meet benefactions.