§ 54. Mr. THORNEasked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the copy sent to him of the resolution passed at the tithe-payer's demonstration held last week and the request made to him to receive a deputation representative of those who took part in the demonstration; whether he proposes to receive the deputation; and, if not, will he state the reason why?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe Prime Minister received a request on the evening of 23rd June from the chairman of the demonstration in question, asking him to receive a deputation on the following day. It was explained to the chairman that the whole question of tithe rentcharge was exhaustively considered by the Royal Commission which heard evidence from those organisations which the proposed deputation represented. Moreover, subsequent to the publication of the report of the Royal Commission, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture received deputations from various bodies representing tithe-payers, and thus had an opportunity of hearing their views prior to the introduction of legislation. These representations were given full consideration by the Government, and, in the circumstances, the Prime Minister was of opinion that no useful purpose would be served by receiving the deputation in question.