HC Deb 29 October 1908 vol 195 cc511-2
SIR G. KEKEWICH (Exeter)

I beg to ask the Primo Minister what progress has been by the Convocations of Canterbury and York in their consideration of the Letters of Business addressed to them after the Report of the Royal Commission on Ecclesiastical Discipline; and whether he will take steps to expedite their proceedings by the imposition of a time limit or otherwise.

MR. ASQUITH

I am informed that after general consideration of the Royal Letters of Business at their sessions of November, 1906, the Convocations of Canterbury and York appointed Committees in both their Upper and Lower Houses, to consider "the nature of the reply to be given to the Royal Letters of Business." These Committees have been since that date engaged in a very thorough investigation of the different branches of the subject, and have presented certain Reports to the Convocations in the course of last year. In the Convocation of Canterbury a Committee of Bishops appointed to draft a historical memorandum, presented in February, 1908, to the Upper House a Report dealing with the Ornaments of the Church and its Ministers. A further Report from a Committee on the Rubrics of the Prayer Book generally will, it is understood, be presented next February. In the Convocation of York, Committees of both the Upper and Lower Houses presented Reports in May, 1908, for the consideration of the Convocation. I do not propose in these circumstances to take the steps suggested by my hon. friend.