§ 40. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the four Welsh bishops will be prohibited from attending the Upper House of Convocation, under the provisions of the Established Church (Wales) Bill; whether legal proceedings can be taken in the event of the Church in Wales continuing to demand their right to be represented in the Convocation of their Church; why the Home Secretary and the Under-Secretary stated to a member of the London Diocesan Conference that this provision of the Bill, if resisted, would inevitably become a dead letter; and whether he will reconsider his former decision and delete the prohibition, which is objected to by Convocation and Churchmen of all parties?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part, it is a purely hypothetical question, and the hon. Member must not assume that the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Welsh bishops and clergy will not observe the law. As to the third part, neither I nor the Under Secretary ever stated to a member of the London Diocesan Conference that this provision of the Bill, if resisted, would inevitably become a dead letter. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAm I to understand that there will be policemen outside Convocation to prevent the bishops attending, and is there any penalty Clause in the Bill to prevent them attending?
§ Mr. McKENNAIf any unauthorised persons attend Convocation and take part in the proceedings of Convocation it will not be Convocation.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs not that absolute persecution of the Church?
§ Mr. HOAREAm I to understand that the statement reported in the "Times," that the right hon. Gentleman had made to Mr. Lacey the statement referred to in this question, is entirely without foundation?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have read the report—I do not remember whether it was in the "Times" or not—and I think that Mr. Lacey does not purport to state that I made the statement referred to, but that he assumed that, as I gave no answer, it would be a dead letter. That is his assumption and not my answer.
§ Mr. KINGAre not the proceedings of Convocations subject to the control of this House, and will not they always continue to be so until the Church of England is Disestablished also?