§ 63. Sir Henry Morris-Jonesasked the Home Secretary what are the present duties of the Commissioners of Church Temporalities in Wales in view of the passage of the Tithes Act; and what salaries are paid to the Commissioners?
§ Mr. PeakeThe duties of the Commissioners of Church Temporalities in Wales are those laid down in the Welsh Church Acts, 1914 and 1919, with which my hon. Friend is no doubt familiar. The only effect of the Tithe Act, 1936, upon those duties was to relieve the Commissioners of the collection of certain tithe rent-charges in Wales and Monmouthshire which was mainly carried out by agents, but on the other hand other duties were thrown upon them by that Act and other recent legislation. One Commissioner is in receipt of a salary of £1,500 a year. The only other Commissioner has never drawn the salary to which he is entitled.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesCan the hon. Gentleman give any indication as to what are the functions of the Commissioners?
§ Mr. PeakeI am afraid I cannot. As I pointed out in my answer, the new duties thrown upon the Commissioners are those imposed by the legislation to which I have referred.