§ 58. Major STEELasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the high costs for redemption of tithe, he will state upon what basis the costs are arrived at; and why the whole of the cost for ascertaining the amount of the redemption figure falls upon the tithe redeemer?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)In reply to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Faversham on the 7th instant. As regards the last part of the question, the Tithe Act, 1860, provides that all expenses incidental to any redemption shall be payable by the owners of the lands liable to the rentcharge to be redeemed. I may add that, during the passage of the Tithe Act, 1925, through Parliament, no suggestion was made from any quarter of the House that the procedure which had been in force for so many years should be altered.
§ Major STEELWill the right hon. Gentleman consider if there are means of arriving at the amount of tithe redemption at less cost than it entails at present?
§ Mr. GUINNESSWe have gone very carefully into the matter. I fully appreciate the hardship which is involved, but we have not been able to find any method of avoiding it.
§ Sir G. WHELERMay I ask whether in these small cases of compulsory tithe redemption a simple form of procedure could not be adopted?
§ Mr. GUINNESSIs it not a mere matter of procedure but of examinations and costly surveys which have to be made.
§ Sir G. WHELERYes, but is that necessary? That is my point.
§ Mr. GUINNESSThese apportionments are very complicated, but I shall be glad to go into the question with my hon. and gallant Friend.