HC Deb 13 November 1902 vol 114 cc874-5
MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower hamlets, Poplar)

I beg be to ask the hon. Member for the West Salford Division whether his attention has been drawn to the tact that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners applied last year to the rebuilding of certain denominational schools in Southwark a sum of £1,500 derived from funds belonging to the ecclesiastical branch of the City Parochial Charities Fund, which is prescribed by the City Parochial Charities Act, 1883, to be applied only to the maintenance of the fabric of churches and other ecclesiastical purposes; and, if so, in view of the provisions of the Act, will he explain why such action has been sanctioned.

MR. LEES KNOWLES (Salford, W.)

The objects to which the funds paid to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners under the City Parochial Charities Act may be applied are by the Act described in such terms as to leave to the Commissioners a wider discretion than would appear from one hon, Member's Question, and, taking into consideration the special needs of the schools referred to in the Question. and the wants of the parish served by them, the Board considered the grant to be a legitimate application of a part of those funds.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

It is specifically stated that the funds are to be applied to ecclesiastical purposes.

MR LEES KNOWLES

The hon. Gentleman's paraphrase has narrowed the meaning of the section.

MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)

As I was responsible for the drafting of this Act, may I ask on which words the hon. Gentleman relies?

MR. LEES KNOWLES

The terms are rather lengthy.

MR. BRYCE

Will the lion. Gentleman be good enough to read the terms?

MR. LEES KNOWLES

Yes, the terms are as follows— To he applied" (by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners) "to the maintenance of the fabric of churches or to the better endowment of existing benefices, or to giving theological instruction to persons preparing for holy orders, or generally to extending the benefit of clerical or spiritual ministrations in accordance with the doctrines or by the ministers of the Church of England as by law established in the more populous districts of the metropolis.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

Perhaps I may explain that I proposed to include the words in my Question, but the Clerk at the Table thought it too long, and I therefore had to paraphrase it.

MR. LEES KNOWLES

I regret that the paraphrase is not wide enough.