§ 46. Mr. Swinglerasked the Prime Minister if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission on the relations between the State and the Church of England, with a view to ascertaining how far the Church's present status accords with the ideals and desires of the majority of English people.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. No representations in favour of disestablishment have been received from any responsible representative body. The Church Assembly and the Free Church Federal Council have in the last few years each appointed Commissions on the relations between Church and State, and both Reports indicate that the separation of Church and State at the present juncture would be to the detriment of Church and nation.
§ Mr. SwinglerNevertheless, is not the Prime Minister aware of the accumulation of constitutional and moral anomalies involved in this position? Is he not also aware that, although he may not have received any representations from any bodies, there are nevertheless responsible people, both inside and outside the Church, who are in favour of an objective 200 examination of the relations between the Church and the State? Should not this matter be examined by a responsible and reputable body of people?
§ The Prime MinisterI have given the House an account of the views expressed to me not only by the Church Assembly but also by the Free Church Federal Council, and I am not prepared to go beyond what I have said.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanWould the Prime Minister not agree that it would be most undesirable to have disestablishment of the Church of England but that it would be desirable to have it established on the same lines as the Church is established in Scotland whereby Parliamentary control is strictly limited?
§ Mr. SorensenIs the Prime Minister aware that when he refers to the establishment of the Church and the relationship of Church and State, he in fact refers only to one denomination, and that the majority of the people of this country belong to Churches which are not established? Would the right hon. Gentleman take that into consideration?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is exactly why I quoted both the Church Assembly and the Free Church Federal Council—because it would show that although the Free Church Federal Council is not the council of an established Church, it takes the same view as the Established Church that no changes should be made.