22. Mr. PRICEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the burden imposed upon British agriculture by the payment of tithes in accordance with the stabilising Act of 1925, he will consider the possibility of appointing a commission to make a full inquiry into the working of this Act?
§ Major ELLIOTThe Tithe Act, 1925, stabilised at £105 the annual amount payable in respect of each £100 tithe rent-charge par value. If the Act had not been passed the amount payable would have ranged between £131 and £138 in the years since 1925. With regard to the question of the appointment of a commission of inquiry, the position remains as stated by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council in his reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Maldon (Colonel Ruggles-Brise) on 22nd June last.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSAre we to understand that the Government have now made up their mind that there is no case against paying tithe on the basis of the 1925 Act?
§ Major ELLIOTThe answer given by the Lord President of the Council was that the Government could hold out no prospect of legislation on the question.