§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLOR (Liverpool, E. Toxteth)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is now able to make any statement to the House as to the composition of the Royal Commission on Ecclesiastical Disorders and as to the terms of reference thereto.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.In answer to my hon. friend I have to say that His Majesty has approved the appointment of a Royal Commission, and the reference to it is in these terms—
To inquire into the alleged prevalence of breaches or neglect of the law relating to the conduct of Divine service in the Church of England, and the ornaments and fittings of churches, and to consider the existing powers and procedure applicable to such irregularities, and to make such recommendations as may be deemed requisite for dealing with the aforesaid matters.My right hon. friend the Member for West Bristol has, I am glad to say, consented to be Chairman of the Commission. The other members of the Commission are the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Marquess of Northampton, the Bishop of Oxford, Sir Francis Jeune, Sir John Kennaway, Mr. J. G. Talbot, Sir Samuel Hoare, Sir Edward Clarke, Sir Lewis Dibdin, Dean of the Court of Arches; Dr. Gibson, vicar of Leeds; the Rev. Thomas Wortley Drury, Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge; Professor Prothero, of Cambridge University, and Mr. George Harwood.
§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLORMay I ask whether an opportunity will be given to the House to discuss either the terms of reference or the composition of the Commission.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir. I think such a Course would be unusual, 692 and certainly form a most inconvenient precedent. But I think that, when my hon. friend has had time to consider the terms, he will feel that no discussion is necessary.
§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLORI am sorry I shall be obliged to ask leave to move the adjournment of the House on the subject.