§ 56. Mr. BLACKasked the Minister of Agriculture the amount by which the tithe holders have profited under the provisions of the Tithe Act, 1920; and whether 900 the whole of this sum has fallen upon the ratepayers of the parishes concerned in the form of increased rates?
Mr. SMITHThere are no available statistics as to the total amount of relief from rates accorded to clerical tithe owners by the Ecclesiastical Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Act, 1920, which, I may remind the hon. Member, expires at the end of next year. The compilation of exact figures would necessitate asking specially for particulars from upwards of 10,000 parishes, and a considerable amount of labour and expense would be entailed, which, in my right hon. Friend's opinion, would be unjustifiable. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. BLACKAre the Government proposing to do anything when the Act expires to remedy the position?