§ 32. Mr. G. NICHOLSONasked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as 184 representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether the Ecclesiastical Commissioners accept any responsibility for housing conditions where they are the ground landlords?
§ Mr. DENMAN (Second Church Estates Commissioner)The power of a ground landlord to influence housing conditions on his land depends upon the terms of the leases and the dates when they will fall in. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners accept responsibility in proportion to the power they can exercise in each individual case.
§ Mr. NICHOLSONCannot they accept any more moral responsibility than that?
§ Mr. DENMANNo, Sir.
§ Mr. KNIGHTDo the Commissioners recognise that it is their duty to assist under conditions which are prejudicial to the public welfare?
§ Mr. DENMANResponsibility goes with power, and I have already said that we accept responsibility in exact proportion to the power which we can exercise.
§ Mr. KNIGHTSince the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are a public authority, does not my hon. Friend think it desirable that they should set an example?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENAre not the Commissioners a body of trustees?
§ 33. Mr. NICHOLSONasked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are taking steps to urge upon the Paddington Borough Council the need for immediate steps to ameliorate the housing conditions at present existing upon land which is the property of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
§ Mr. DENMANIn March, 1931, in answer to a question in this House, I stated that the Commissioners would gladly give their encouragement as ground landlords to any approved scheme made by the local housing authority. The question and answer were communicated to the borough council of Paddington, but no proposals for any scheme have been sent to the Commissioners.
§ Mr. NICHOLSONWill the Commissioners continue to take more active steps to impress this necessity upon the borough council?
§ Mr. DENMANThe power of the Commissioners is really confined to friendly helpfulness, and, if the hon. Member wants efficient action, I think he must go to those whom Parliament has endowed with the power, namely, the Ministry of Health.
§ Lieut.-Commander AGNEWDo the Commissioners anticipate getting any assistance from the Town and Country Planning Bill?
Viscountess ASTORDoes the hon. Gentleman not think that it would be a good thing if the Commissioners would get a crusading spirit?