HC Deb 18 March 1970 vol 798 cc565-6

Queen's Consent having been signified—

11.42 p.m.

Mr. E. L. Mallalieu (Brigg)

I beg to move, That the Collegiate Churches (Capital Endowments) Measure, passed by the National Assembly of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for Her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament. The Ecclesiastical Commission Act, 1869, enabled land to be transferred by Order in Council with the consent of the Visitor to a cathedral or to a Collegiate Church in lieu of any annual sum which was payable by law by the Commissioners to them. The Cathedrals Measure of 1963 repealed these provisions of the 1869 Act but enacted similar provisions with regard to cathedrals, omitting Collegiate Churches. This Measure enacts them for the two Collegiate Churches of Westminster Abbey and St. George's, Windsor. It is to be done by Order in Council under this Measure, on simple agreement between the parties, with the consent of the Visitor and Her Majesty the Queen in the case of Westminster Abbey and the Lord Chancellor in the case of St. George's, Windsor.

The Church Assembly passed the Measure through all its stages without any division, and the Ecclesiastical Commission of Parliament recommended the House that the submission of the Measure to Her Majesty was expedient.

11.45 p.m.

Mr. Robert Cooke (Bristol, West)

I gather that Westminster Abbey and St. George's Chapel, Windsor, were left out of the previous Measure by a sad omission. Are those responsible for this Measure quite certain that they have now got everything in that should be in? The word "land" appears in the Measure. Why "land"? Surely capital assets can be transferred in some other form? Is it limited to land?

Mr. Mallalieu

It is limited to land. It is considered desirable that that should be the case. With regard to the hon. Gentleman's first question, there was just a plain omission when the Measure came forward and now those in authority feel pretty certain that all is included that should be included.

Mr. John Wells (Maidstone)

I presume that "land" includes farmland, and therefore farm buildings, farm houses and all the appurtenances.

Mr. Mallalieu

It includes all land. More particularly the reference here would be to sites.

Question put and agreed to.