§ 62. Mr. MANDERasked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, what instructions have been issued to clergy with regard to the sale of their glebe and other land; and what steps are being taken to prevent the neighbourhood of parish churches being in this way built over and the amenities destroyed?
§ Mr. DENMAN (Second Church Estates Commissioner)The initiative in the sale of glebe never comes from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Every proposal for a sale under the Ecclesiastical Leasing Acts has to be made by the incumbent and to receive the approval of the patron and the Commissioners. They have drawn up instructions as to procedure, and I am sending a copy of them to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. MANDERIs my hon. Friend not aware that there have been several cases of the sale of glebes in these circumstances and that these amenities have been seriously interfered with, and do I understand that the Commissioners would strongly deprecate anything which might result in that?
§ Mr. DENMANThe Commissioners habitually safeguard the amenities of the land that is thus sold, but, if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, I shall be glad to hear of it.