Ecclesiastical Commissioners (Pro-vision for Unbeneficed Clergy) Measure, 1928, (Amendment)Measure, 1931.

HC Deb 29 April 1931 vol 251 cc1776-8

Mr. MIDDLETON

I beg to move, That, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (Provision for Unbeneficed Clergy) Measure, 1928 (Amendment) Measure, 1931, be presented to His Majesty for Royal Assent. The effect of the Measure which I submit to the House is to make a small addition to the Measure that was passed by the House in 1928 dealing with the provision for unbeneficed clergy. The House will see by the report of the Ecclesiastical Committee that it refers to a Measure which authorises the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to make grants out of their common fund for certain un-beneficed clerks in Holy Orders. The object of the present Measure is to extend this power of grant to a class which is now excluded, that is, the class of whole time chaplains in certain institutions. I think I can help the House to realise the full effect of the change by quoting the Clause of the 1928 Act as it would read if the Measure proposed to-night is accepted. Section 1 of that Measure now reads: The purposes to which the revenue of the Common Fund of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners may be applied shall include the making of further provision in accordance with any scheme or regulations from time to time made by the said Commissioners for any Clerk in Holy Orders who is unbeneficed, has attained the prescribed age, holds a curacy or performs ecclesiastical duty as assistant to the incumbent of a benefice. That is where the addition that we propose comes in: Or is employed as whole-time chaplain of any such religious establishment or institution as may be prescribed. It then goes on to say that it applies in the parts of the Province of Canterbury and the Province of York other than the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a very small thing which the House is asked to pass. It is a necessary additional provision to the Measure which is now in force, and I would commend to the House the last sentence of the report of the Ecclesiastical Committee, which goes rather further than some reports which are submitted with Measures: The constitutional rights of His Majesty's subjects are not affected and the Ecclesiastical Committee are of opinion that it is expedient that the Measure should proceed.

Major Sir JOHN BIRCHALL

I beg to second the Motion.

Mr. KELLY

I notice that the Isle of Man is excluded from this Measure. May I ask why?

Mr. MIDDLETON

It is under a different administration.

Lord H. CECIL

We do not meddle with the Isle of Man.

Mr. KELLY

But you did in a recent Bill.

Lord H. CECIL

It is always a special circumstance if it deals with the Isle of Man. Normally it is left to manage its own affairs.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, That, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (Provision for Unbeneficed Clergy) Measure, 1928 (Amendment) Measure, 1931, be presented to His Majesty for Royal Assent.

The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.