MR. BRYNMOR JONES (Swansea District)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has recently been drawn to the alleged continuance of ecclesiastical disorders in many dioceses of the Church of England; and whether he will move, at an early date, or give facilities to a Motion, for the appointment of a Select Committee of this House, to inquire into the nature and extent of present ecclesiastical disorders, into proposed legislative 466 remedies and into other matters connected therewith; and to report thereon.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am grateful for the courtesy of the hon. Gentleman, who has put this Question off for a week at my request. The subject is, one of very great interest and importance, and I have done my best with such means as are at my disposal to find out what progress has been made in connection with what is described in the Question as the disorders in the Church of England. On the whole, I believe the progress has been considerable, though I am afraid it cannot be alleged that it has been as great as most of us would desire. There is great doubt as to the facts in this case. There are many persons who believe that these, disorders are widely spread over England, that, they permeate the whole system of the National Church; and others who, on the other hand, hold that they are extremely restricted in area and confined to one or two particular spots. I think both of those opposing parties have some right to ask for an investigation, and I do not think, therefore, that the Government would be justified in refusing it. The only question for determination is what form the inquiry should lake. The hon Gentleman suggests a Select Committee. I do not think that, for many reasons, that is the most convenient form of inquiry. I do not think even a Joint Committee of the two Houses is the most convenient form—certainly not the form most in accordance with precedent. There have been many Royal Commissions I to inquire into and deal with questions of discipline in the Church of England, but there has been, so far as I am aware, no Committee of the House of Commons. I have not gone through the whole of our records to make sure that that statement is accurate. I am quite confident, however, that I am right in saying that the general stream of precedent runs in the direction of dealing with these very important questions by a Royal Commission. In these circumstances I shall lose no time in forming such a Commission and recommending it to His Majesty the King.
§ MR. AUSTIN TAYLOR (Liverpool East Toxteth)May I ask whether, in view of the fact that the conditions and circumstances of the Church of England are 467 unprecedented, it would not be advisable to depart from precedent and appoint a Committee of the House.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURHaying given the matter the best consideration in my power, I am disposed, on the merits, to take a somewhat different view from my hon. friend; and I feel that a Commission would be the best instrument which we have at our command.