MR. LAWRENCETo ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact of the unequal episcopal patronage accruing to new dioceses formed under the Bishoprics Act, 1878; whether he is aware that the Liverpool Diocese with 410 clergy when created had assigned it only eight livings, while that of Chester with 407 clergy was left with sixty-four, in addition to fourteen belonging to the chapter of Chester Cathedral; whether the powers of the Act 6 and 7 Will. 4, c. 77, which arranged episcopal patronage according to the magnitude of the diocese, are long since exhausted; whether he will permit of a Return being issued showing the present state of episcopal and capitular patronage in each diocese; and whether, having regard to the desirability of giving fairly equal chances of promotion to the clergy generally, he will consider the propriety of legislation following on the lines of 6 and 7 Will. 4, c. 77.
(Answered by Mr. A. J. Balfour.) My attention has been called to the fact referred to, and while I have very inadequate means of verifying the figures quoted by my hon. friend, I believe them to be substantially correct. It is also the case that the powers conferred by the Act 6 and 7 Will. 4, c. 77, are long since exhausted. There appears to be no objection to the issue of the Return suggested by my hon. friend, if he desires to move for it; but it may be observed that the information is 366 already available in unofficial publications. Although the subject is worthy of consideration, I can hardly promise legislation.