HC Deb 27 March 1913 vol 50 cc1822-3
49. Viscount WOLMER

asked the Prime Minister whether, in framing the Closure Resolutions for the discussion of the Established Church (Wales) Bill this Session, he will provide that those Clauses which were passed without any debate last Session shall be fully discussed this time?

The PRIME MINISTER

I must ask the Noble Lord to wait for the proposals of the Government on the subject.

77. Viscount WOLMER

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the Established Church (Wales) Bill, the Church in Wales, when Disestablished, will enjoy the same rights and privileges as regards tenure of property as have been conferred upon the dissenting bodies in Wales by the Dissenters Chapels Act, 1844?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)

The answer is in the negative. An express application of the Act of 1844 to the Church in Wales would have no effect, inasmuch as the rights and privileges conferred by that Act are conferred only so far as there is no instrument under which any particular religious doctrines or opinions or mode of regulaitng worship are required to be taught or observed, or are forbidden to be taught or observed, and this will not be the case as respects the Church in Wales when Disestablished.

78. Viscount WOLMER

asked whether the Established Church (Wales) Bill entitles him to advise His Majesty to refuse to incorporate by charter the representative body of the Church in the event of the constitution of the body not meeting with his approval; and whether it is his intention so to advise His Majesty in that contingency?

Mr. McKENNA

The rights and duties of His Majesty's Ministers to tender advice to His Majesty depend on the unwritten constitution and not on any Act of Parliament. The latter part of the Noble Lord's question is a hypothetical quesion, which does not seem to require consideration at the present time.

Viscount WOLMER

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he intends to withhold the charter from the representative body of the Church in Wales if the constitution of the body does not meet with his approval?

Mr. McKENNA

That is the precise question which the Noble Lord has put upon the Paper. It is a hypothetical question, and I will answer it if and when the circumstance arises.