HC Deb 21 May 1980 vol 985 cc677-8 12.15 am
Dr. Brian Mawhinney (Peterborough)

I beg leave to present a petition, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and ask that you direct the Clerk at the Table to read it.

The Clerk of the House read the petition, which was as follows:

To the Honourable the Commons of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.

The Humble Petition of Alan John Dale, a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature, sheweth:

1. That the Petitioner is the solicitor representing the Reverend Elsie Dorothea Chamberlain, John Bernard Wilcox, the Reverend Neville Folland Rees and the Reverend Edward Stanley Guest.

2. That proceedings pending in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice against (among others) the said Reverend Elsie Dorothea Chamberlain, John Bernard Wilcox, the Reverend Neville Folland Rees and the Reverend Edward Stanley Guest have been instituted by the Yorkshire Congregational Union (Incorporated), the case number being 1979 Y No. 476.

3. That the Plaintiffs seek determination of legal issues affecting the Trusts of the Charity consisting of proceeds of sale of the Independent Chapel, Albion Street, Kingston-upon-Hull in the administrative county of Humberside following the passase of the United Reformed Church Act 1972.

4. That the United Reformed Church Bill was referred to a Committee which heard evidence on 23 and 24 May 1972 and was considered by your honourable House on 22 June 1972 (House of Commons Debates 839 cols. 629–72).

5. That the Minutes of Evidence of the above hearing and the Report of Debate printed as aforesaid relate directly to the issues referred to in paragraph 3 hereof, and reference is desired to be made by your Petitioner in the proceedings referred to in paragraph 2 hereof to the said Minutes of Evidence and Report of Debate.

Wherefore your Petitioner humbly prays that your honourable House will be pleased to give leave for reference to be made to the said Minutes of Evidence and Report of Debate and for the proper officers of your House to attend the said proceedings and formally to produce and to prove the same according to their competence.

And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

Alan John Bale,

Ordered,

That leave be given for references to be made to the said Minutes of Evidence and Report of Debate and for the proper Officers of this House to attend the said proceedings and formally to produce and to prove the same according to their competence.—[Dr. Mawhinney.]