§ 68. Mr. HAYDN JONESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the fact that the total revenue of the Welsh Church Commissioners is insufficient to meet their expenditure and that the commission now paid for the collection of tithes is excessive, he will consider the advisability of instructing the Commissioners to invite tenders for such collection with a view to reducing the cost?
The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Bridge-man)I am informed by the Commissioners of Church Temporalities in Wales that it is not correct to say that their present total revenue is insufficient to meet their present expenditure. They also inform me that in the present stage of their management and investigation, they do not see how they can usefully adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member, nor can they admit that in the circumstances the commission paid by them to their agents for tithe collection is excessive.
§ Mr. JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have a number of applications from firms offering to do this work at one half of the present cost?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe hon. Gentleman asked a question on this subject some days ago, when he said he would give me the names of those firms, but he has not done so.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill it be all right now that Sir Arthur Boscawen has got an appointment?