ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS (SODOR AND MAN) MEASURE, 1930. (Hansard, 7 April 1930)

Captain BENNETT
I beg to move,
That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (Sodor and Man) Measure, 1930, be presented to His Majesty for Royal Assent. I do not think I need detain the House for more than a few minutes. This is a one-Clause Measure concerning a very small ecclesiastical area, namely, the Isle of Man, and it is entirely of a non-controversial character. It gives the Ecclesiastical Commissioners the power to make grants to the necessitous clergy of the Diocese of Sodor and Man. There has always been a very evil tradition of clerical poverty in the Isle of Man. Whereas in England the Ecclesiastical Commissioners endeavour, with success generally, to raise the minimum income of incumbents to £300, the minimum aimed at in the Isle of Man is only £200. There is little else to be said, but in order to avoid any misunderstanding on a technical point, I may say that, although the Isle of Man is not really included in the United Kingdom, and its church is an independent church with its own law, yet for all practical purposes it has, since the 15th century, been treated as in the Province of York.

§ Sir G. COURTHOPE
I beg to second the Motion.

§ Mr. ALBERY
I have several times been present late at night when these Measures have been brought up and though I do not wish to put any obstruction in the way of this Measure to-night I would ask whether particulars of these Measures are circulated to hon. Members before they are brought forward. [interruption.] It may be that the Measure is in the Vote Office, but I do not think that is sufficient. We ought to have these Measures circulated to us personally, so that we may know what is going forward and have some opportunity of looking through the Measure. I regard these Measures as of great importance and deplore very much the manner in which they are passed in this House. I am not going to raise any further objection tonight, but I wish to register a protest.