HC Deb 27 July 1908 vol 193 cc829-30
MR. DUNDAS WHITE (Dumbartonshire)

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give an undertaking that the Indian Government will not apply any public money to the repairing or maintenance of any garrison or other church in respect of the use of which any denomination claims an exclusive right.

(Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) This course would not be possible. The churches in question, of which several are appropriated for Presbyterian and others for Roman Catholic worship, are Government buildings provided for the use of the troops, and they could obviously not be allowed to fall into disrepair and the object for which they have been built thus be defeated.

MR. LAIDLAW (Renfrewshire, E.)

To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India at what military stations in India, where Government churches already exist, are places of worship for non-Anglican troops to be built, what is the estimated total cost, and out of what funds are they to be paid for.

(Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) The hon. Member will find in Appendix 9 to the Papers presented to Parliament in Cd. 4022 the names of the places where unconsecrated churches are being built. They are being built out of Government funds, but, I am unable to give the exact figure without reference to India.

MR. LAIDLAW

To ask the Undersecretary of State for India how much was paid in the last financial year by the Government of India for the upkeep and repair of Government churches; and if the Government have contributed anything for the upkeep and repair of Hindoo temple and Mahomedan mosques in the same period.

(Answered by Mr. Buchanan.) In 1906–7, the last year for which we have full accounts, the expenditure on repairs of churches amounted to £17,200; but this figure probably includes grants-in-aid for churches which are not the property of Government. As regards the second part of the Question, the grants made by former rulers for the upkeep of temples and mosques have been maintained and special grants hive also been made in, the case of buildings of archæological interest.