Mr. PIKE PEASE (for Mr. Joynson-Hicks)asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his selection of the year 1662 as the discriminating date with regard to the endowments of the Church in Wales, he can state approximately the amount of revenue derived from property in Wales and Monmouthshire which belonged to the Church prior to 1662, and the amount of revenue derived from property acquired since 1662?
§ The SOLICITOR - GENERAL (Sir Samuel Evans, for the Prime Minister)The calculation of the revenue in sections as suggested in the question is complicated by the grants made by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and by the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty. These amounted in 1906 to the sums of £49,646 and £37,284 respectively. Apart from these grants, the income of benefices in Wales and Monmouthshire (to which I assume the hon. Member refers) from Church property which existed before 1662, is about £134,000 per annum, and from private benefactions made since 1662 is about £20,000 per annum. These sums do not include the incomes of bishoprics, archdeaconries, or the deans and chapters; nor, of course, the annual value of fabrics, ecclesiastical residences, and so forth. The two volumes of evidence about to be published by the Royal Commission will contain statistical tables of Welsh Church property which will give in full detail all the information available.
§ Lord R. CECILCan he say if the evidence will be published?
§ Sir SAMUEL EVANSI am not able to say. That depends on the decision of the Committee. I understand it is about to be published and that a promise was made, through the Home Secretary, that would be so not very long ago.