§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland, whether his attention has been called to the proceedings taking place in the parish of Old Machar, which embraces a large section of the town of Aberdeen, under 1320 which owners of land and houses have been assessed for the payment of rates in support of a church and a manse with which a majority of the ratepayers have no acquaintance or concern, and to the fact that these assessm[...]nts are levied under a threat of seizure and sale of the goods of those who resist the exaction; if he is aware of the dissatisfaction prevailing throughout Scotland in connection with the above and many similar proceedings; and if the Government will be prepared to bring in a Bill for the abolition of church and manse rates in Scotland.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Mr. SINCLAIR, Forfar)My attention has been called to the proceedings referred to by the hon. Member. The Government is alive to the dissatisfaction with which these proceedings are regarded. They are not prepared to bring in such a Bill.
§ MR. EUGENE WASON (Clackmannan and Kinross)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Church rate has been abolished south of the Tweed and will he take steps to give similar relief in the North?
AN HON. MEMBERAnd is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these funds are no longer applied to national purposes? Will he see that that is altered?
§ MR. SINCLAIRI can add nothing to my Answer.
§ MR. PIRIEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Lord Advocate has already expressed his opinion that those rates should be entirely abolished?
§ MR. SPEAKERruled the Question out of Order.