§ 28. Major Sir GRANVILLE WHELERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as there is no Minister responsible to the House of Commons for the actions of Queen Anne's Bounty with respect to the administration of the Tithe Act, 1925, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation for this purpose?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr.Guinness)The Tithe Act, 1925, entrusted to Queen Anne's Bounty certain duties in regard to the collection and ultimate redemption of ecclesiastical tithe rentcharge. The Bounty have for many years past dealt with redemption and allied questions affecting such tithe rentcharge, and I see no reason why their administration in regard to matters which are domestic to the Church should be subject to constant review in this House. I am not prepared, therefore, to introduce legislation of the kind indicated by my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Sir G. WHELERIs it a fact that a very large number of tithepayers are now brought in under the control of Queen Anne's Bounty under the new assessment who never were so closely connected with Queen Anne's Bounty before, and should they not have some right of redress if anything goes wrong?
§ Mr. GUINNESSThat is true, but Parliament was no doubt aware of the large area to which Queen Anne's Bounty was to be applied, and I think my hon. and gallant Friend will recognise that at first, when the change over takes place, a certain amount of inconvenience is inevitable, and as there may be a special distribution in July, Queen Anne's Bounty are doing all they can to mitigate the loss.