HC Deb 19 June 1913 vol 54 cc530-1
27. Sir J. D. REES

asked whether under the Established Church (Wales) Bill the parishes of Abergavenny, LlandewiRydderch, Llanthony, Grosmont, Llanfoist, Llangattock-Lingoed, LlandewiSkyrrid, Llantilo-Pertholey, Llanvapley, Llanvetherine, and Llanvihangel-Crucorney will lose the whole of their endowments, while the parish of LlanwenarthUltra kill retain £1; whether he is aware that only one church in the deanery of Abergavenny will retain its whole endowment and two parishes £29 and £34, respectively, twelve out of sixteen parishes being wholly disendowed; whether he is aware that in this poor agricultural deanery there are few chapels outside the town of Abergavenny; and what mitigation of these results will be effected?

Mr. McKENNA

The facts are not as stated by the hon. Member, as three of the parishes he mentions, namely, Abergavenny, Llanthony, and Grosmont need not lose the whole of their endowments. Nine parishes (with a total of communicants under 500) out of sixteen parishes in the deanery of Abergavenny will lose their existing endowments, two parishes may retain the whole of their endowments, while the remaining five may retain some part of their present endowments. It is impossible to compare parish by parish the provision made in the deanery at the present time by the Nonconformists with the provision made by the Church of England, but I am not aware that there is any lack of Nonconformist chapels. The complete freedom given under the provisions of the Bill to the Church to reorganise herself will enable her to distribute the income possessed by her after Disendowment so as to meet effectively the needs of particular districts of this kind.

23. Viscount WOLMER

asked the Home Secretary whether it is intended by the Established Church (Wales) Bill to enable county councils in Wales to use the Church funds allotted to them in relief of rates?

Mr. McKENNA

The money can only be applied for the specific purposes laid down in Clause 19, but the powers of local authorities are now so wide that it is competent for them to apply rates for some of these purposes.