§ MR. J. M. HENDERSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)I beg to ask the hon. Member 1658 for South Somerset, as representating the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that, in an ordinary case of reapportionment or redemption of a small amount of vicarial tithe rent-charge in the parish of Epping, Essex, No. 16940, the Board of Agriculture have been occupied more than two years, and have not yet completed the requisite formalities; and whether he can see his way to provide some method by which this delay may be avoided, and greater facilities afforded for carrying out such applications in future, in order that the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries may be better enabled to relieve certain payers of tithe rent-charge from paying for properties belonging to other owners without adequate means of redress.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYAlthough some preliminary inquiries were addressed to the Board in this case in March,1905, the formal application for redemption was not received until April, 1906. A survey of the lands was then necessary, but owing to the pressure of work in the Department it was unfortunately impossible to get this completed until early this month. The order for redemption has now been made and the proceedings will be completed with the least possible delay.