§ MR. RIGG (Westmoreland, Appleby)To ask the hon. Member for West Salford, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commission, if he will state what amount has been paid by the Ecclesiastical Commission to the officers of the Court constituted by the Benefices Act, 1898, and for other purposes connected therewith, since the passing of the Act; who are the officers in question; what duties have they discharged in the same period; what proceedings have there been in the Court in respect of which the payments have been made; and out of what fund have the payments been made, having regard to the proviso that no portion of any fund destined for the relief of necessitous incumbents shall be applied to the payment of such salaries and expenses.
§ (Answered by Mr. Lees Knowles.) A Registrar of the Court has been appointed, Mr. W. H. Macnamara, and one clerk, Mr. T. Whittall, assigned to him. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners have, during the four years ended 15th March, 1903, paid for salary to the Registrar, £1,200; paid for salary to his clerk, £200; paid for other expenses (stationery), £3 12s. 10d.; Total, £1,403 12s. 10d.; and the fees received have amounted to £10 19s. 2d; so that the net amount defrayed by them has been £1,392 13s. 8d. The Registrar's duties are defined by the rules which have been made under Section 11 of the Act, being concerned with the regulation of the procedure in relation to the hearing of matters and appeals; some interlocutory applications may, by direction of the judge, be heard and disposed of by the Registrar. The Commissioners are informed that the Registrar has dealt with applications in four cases which have been brought under the Act as well as with inquiries at the office and some correspondence. The payments by the Commissioners have, as directed by the Act, been made out of their common fund, and the revenues of that fund, after meeting the charges imposed upon it, are devoted to making additional provision for the cure of souls in parishes where such assistance is most required. The Commissioners have no other fund from which the payments could be made.