§ 22. Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will in- 852 troduce legislation for the compulsory apportionment or redemption of tithe on land sold for building purposes?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe Tithe Act, 1878, provides for compulsory redemption of tithe rentcharge charged on land which has been divided for building or other purposes into numerous plots, and the Tithe Act, 1925, extends this to any case where the Ministry is satisfied that land is about to be so divided. Further legislation does not, therefore, appeal-to be necessary.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIn case of any local difficulty of this kind, has the Minister power to act?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI do not think the Minister has power to act except in cases in which he is approached by those concerned, but I find it a little difficult to answer a point like that when it is put in a supplementary question.
§ 23. Mr. C. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been called to the hardship and vexation sometimes caused to the buyer of a small plot of land by his having to pay tithe on the neighbouring land as well as his own and to collect what he can from his neighbour; and whether he will take steps to alter the law in this respect?
§ Mr. ELLIOTIn the case referred to by my hon. Friend it is open to the purchaser to apply to the Ministry for re-apportionment by which his property can be charged separately with tithe rentcharge, and in such case is required to pay only his share of the cost of re-apportionment. Alternatively, the purchaser can apply for compulsory redemption, in which case he will only be called upon to pay his share of the cost of redemption of the whole tithe rentcharge. In these circumstances, I do not feel that the matter calls for further legislation.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I ask to whom application would be made for compulsory redemption?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI am afraid that I should need to have notice of that question.