§ 52. Viscount WOLMERasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Lord Crewe, during the Second Reading Debate of the Established Church (Wales) Bill in the House of Lords, that under the Bill incumbents in Wales would receive compensation not only in respect of their own stipends, but also in respect of the stipends of their curates; and whether this is the correct interpretation of the meaning of the Bill?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I do not think the Noble Lord has correctly interpreted the statement made by Lord Crewe during the Second Reading Debate of the Established Church (Wales) Bill in the House of Lords. The Bill safeguards all existing interests of curates, that is to say, if a curate's stipend is now a charge on the income of the benefice, it will continue to be a charge on the incumbent's life interest in the benefice which is preserved under the Bill.