HC Deb 25 March 1936 vol 310 cc1219-20
43. Mr. BERNAYS

asked the Lord President of the Council what Orders in Council have been passed sanctioning the omission from the services of the Church of England of the customary prayers for the Ministers of the State?

The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)

No Order in Council has been made for the purpose to which the hon. Member refers.

Mr. BERNAYS

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, these customary prayers were omitted from the service in Liverpool Cathedral on Sunday last because the Dean and Chapter disagreed with the policy of His Majesty's Government; and, apart from the extraordinarily muddled thinking evident in that action, does he not deprecate the employment of religious sanctions against this Government or any other Government by high dignitaries of the Established Church?

Mr. BENSON

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these prayers have ever been answered?

Mr. MacDONALD

Here, I am afraid, I can only speak as Lord President of the Council. I cannot interfere in what are strictly matters of ecclesiastical discipline.

Mr. PETHERICK

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider introducing legislation under which clergymen of the Church of England may become eligible for membership of this House, and thus make it possible—

Mr. SPEAKER

That point does not arise out of this question.

Mr. V. ADAMS

Is it not a heresy to imply that the wicked are past praying for?