46. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the policy of the Government regarding the making of some change in the variable dates of Easter.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. George Thomas)We are awaiting the outcome of the consideration being given to this question by the World Council of Churches.
Mr. Gresham CookeIs the Joint Under-Secretary aware that it is 37 years since the Easter Act, 1928, was passed allowing for the fixing of the date for Easter? Cannot we get agreement with the Churches? Failing that, cannot we go ahead on our own and fix our own Easter?
§ Mr. ThomasThe Churches in this country, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, are agreed on the question of a fixed date, but it would be highly undesirable if the festival of Easter were on a different date in this country from that operating in the rest of the world, and the Churches have taken the initiative themselves.