§ 16. Mr. Joynson-Hicksasked the Minister of Education how many diocesan schemes he has in preparation under Section 86 of the Education Act, 1944; and when they will be completed.
§ Mr. TomlinsonNineteen draft schemes, of which 12 are concerned with complete dioceses and seven with parts of dioceses, are now in preparation. They are at various stages of completion and will take from one month to about nine months to complete.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the length of time during which some of these applications have been in his Department is causing great difficulties in the dioceses concerned, and can he do anything to expedite the preparation of these schemes?
§ Mr. TomlinsonIt is a question of manpower and, as the hon. Member knows, difficult legal problems are involved. A big increase in manpower at my Ministry would be required to produce the expedition he requires.
§ 17. Mr. Joynson-Hicksasked the Minister of Education what is the estimated loss to date caused to diocesan funds through the reversion of educational foundations under the School Sites Act, 1841, owing to delays in the preparation of diocesan schemes under Section 86 of the Education Act, 1944; and what steps he is taking to reimburse the diocese.
§ Mr. TomlinsonOwing to the number of dioceses and the large number of endowments in each diocese to be dealt with, the Section 86 schemes, although well under way, will take some considerable time to complete. But even if every Section 86 scheme had been prepared and completed no reverter in a case where the reversioner is known could be prevented unless that person consents to relinquish his rights. There is, therefore, no question of loss to the diocese and no question of reimbursement consequently arises.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is the delay in the preparation of these schemes which has enabled reverters to take back 1527 their own foundation properties and that, in some cases, this is costing dioceses up to £10,000?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo action on my part could have prevented that.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksWill not the right hon. Gentleman agree that that would have been prevented if his Department had acted with greater promptitude before the reversioners had stepped in?
§ Mr. TomlinsonIf I had acted with great promptitude and appointed the number of people required, I can imagine the shout which we would have had from hon. Gentleman opposite about increasing the number of civil servants in my Department.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many people are employed in this Department?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNot without notice.
§ Mr. NicholsonCannot the right hon. Gentleman give us some idea of the loss? Surely he must have some idea.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI have some idea, but cannot give the answer without notice. If the hon. Gentleman will put a Question down, he shall have it.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksDoes not the answer mean that requests for information by his Department are to be financed by the Church.
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo, it does not mean that at all.