§ 33 Sir Gifford Foxasked the hon. Member for Central Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners (1) what arrangements are made in the case of vacant livings for placing at least a proportion of the income to reserve, and/or improving the amenities of the different rectories so as to enable them to be supplied with water and electric light;
(2) how many vacant livings in the rural areas are due to the rectories being unsuitable and too large, and what pro portion of the total this represents;
(3) how many livings in the Church of England there are at the present time; and how many have been vacant for at least six months and a year respectively?
§ Mr. Denman (Second Church Estates Commissioner)The surplus revenues of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are assigned by Statute towards making additional provision for the cure of souls; the Commissioners have no authority relating to the incomes of vacant benefices or to the filling of them.