CHURCH COMMISSIONERS MEASURE (Hansard, 1 April 1947)

§ Mr. Burden (Sheffield, Park)

I beg to move, That the Church Commissioners Measure, passed by the National Assembly of the Church of England, be presented to His Majesty for His Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament. This Measure provides for the amalgamation and reconstitution of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of England, established by Act of Parliament in 1836, and Queen Anne's Bounty, established by Royal Charter in 1704. It will be seen from the report made by the Ecclesiastical Committee on the Measure that it was approved by the Church Assembly without a dissentient vote. Perhaps the House will allow me to quote further from the report of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. This report says: This amalgamation was recommended in 1901 by a Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament; in 1924 by a Commission appointed by the Archbishops, and again in 1933 by another Commission under the chairmanship of the late Earl of Selborne. The 2005 present Measure prepared by a Joint Committee, set up by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty in 1943, carries out, with little alteration a scheme of amalgamation approved by the Church Assembly. The Report goes on to say: The Ecclesiastical Committee agreed that the amalgamation of these two authorities is desirable. Their main duty, namely, the augmentation of the incomes of the poorer clergy, is the same, and in other respects their functions overlap. The Committee, therefore, have little doubt that the proposed amalgamation will tend to promote the more efficient and economical administration of the resources of the Church of England as stated in the Preamble of the Measure. The Measure does not appear to be controversial, nor to affect prejudicially the constitutional rights of His Majesty's subjects. The Ecclesiastical Committee are of the opinion that it is expedient it should proceed. I suggest to the House that the amalgamation will enable the work at present done by the two separately to be 2006 carried out more economically and perhaps even more efficiently. At every stage of the proceedings in connection with this Measure there has been unanimity; and I sincerely hope that the House will agree with the Ecclesiastical Committee and approve of the Measure.