HC Deb 29 November 1911 vol 32 cc415-6
Mr. MALCOLM

asked the Home Secretary whether he will grant the Return standing in the name of the hon. Member for Croydon with respect to ecclesiastical endowments in Wales?—[Mr. Malcolm—Ecclesiastical Endowments (Wales)—Address for Return enumerating the Acts of Parliament or other Deeds by which the Endowments now used by the National Church in Wales were conferred upon or transferred to the use of the State; the dates of such Acts or Deeds; and the amounts of such Endowments.]

Mr. ELLIS DAVIES

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask him whether he would also include in the suggested Return the names of the donors of tithes and endowments to the Church in Wales?

Mr. McKENNA

The last Return would be as difficult to give as the first one. The hon. Member asks me to grant a Return enumerating the Acts of Parliament or other deeds by which the endowments now used by the National Church in Wales were conferred upon or transferred to the use of the State. The national property of the Church of England in Wales has not yet been transferred to national purposes, but the Government intend to supply the omission next Session.

Mr. MALCOLM

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman's answer to mean it is inaccurate at present to describe that property as national?

Mr. McKENNA

No, Sir, not at all.

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

When did it become national property?

Mr. McKENNA

It was always national property.

Mr. KING

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware all the Acts required by the hon. Member for Croydon are already supplied by the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. Ellis Griffith) in a speech which he lately delivered?

Lord ROBERT CECIL

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the whole of the property of the English Church in Wales is national property?

Mr. McKENNA

No, Sir. If the Noble Lord had seen the question on the Paper he would have seen what is the subject matter of the question. It does not relate to the whole of the property.

Lord ROBERT CECIL

The answer of the right hon. Gentleman did.

Mr. McKENNA

No; the Noble Lord is mistaken.