§ MR. HUTTON (Yorkshire, W.R., Morley)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware of recent decisions of Courts of Law which seriously affect the religious and social work carried on in association with chapels, churches, and Sunday schools; whether he proposes to take any steps to remove the present uncertainty; and whether he will issue a Circular of instructions to local authorities for their guidance, or whether he will undertake to introduce legislation to remove present difficulties.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I presume that my hon. friend refers to 844 questions as to the rating of chapels and schools not exclusively appropriated to public religious worship or not used exclusively as Sunday schools. I have no reason to suppose that local authorities generally are unaware of the law on the subject, and I do not think I could give any undertaking to introduce legislation on the subject. I will, however, consider the suggestion as to a Circular.