§ 14. Mr. DENMANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that for every year of war during which the price of the grains, upon which the value of tithe rent-charge depends, exceeds the normal by only 35 per cent. the Church of England will secure a profit, spread over a series of years, exceeding £1,000,000 in the aggregate; and whether he will introduce legislation which, while giving reasonable 810 satisfaction to the expectations of the Church, will relieve her from the odium I of having a direct financial interest in the continuance of the War or in the sinking of grain vessels by pirates?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I am afraid I cannot add anything to the answer which I gave my hon. Friend on this subject last week. The information necessary to enable me to verify his estimate is not available. It is not proposed to introduce legislation on the subject.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEMay I ask, as a disinterested person, what the loss has been to the Church of England since tithe rent-charge was first established on its present basis?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no means of answering that question either.