§ 34. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that during the past two years Jewish taxpayers in Palestine have contributed approximately £9,000 towards the cost of the maintenance of the Moslem Supreme Council while the Jewish religious courts and the Chief Rabbi have received no financial support of any kind from Government sources; and whether it is proposed that this arrangement should be continued indefinitely.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe expenditure on the Moslem Religious Courts exceeds their income and this deficit is a charge on public funds to which both Arab and Jewish taxpayers contribute. No similar subvention is held to be required in the case of the Courts of the other religious communities. The President of the Supreme Moslem Council has agreed in principle progressively to diminish the deficit by the reduction of expenditure and the increase of fees. The deficit, which was £12,610 in 1933–34, was reduced to £9,520 in 1934–35; and it is expected that within the measurable future the administration of the Moslem Religious Courts will involve no charge on public funds.