HL Deb 21 July 1859 vol 155 cc139-40
LORD RAVENSWORTH

presented a Petition from inhabitants of Tanfield, in the county of Durham, praying that measures be taken to oblige the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to admit local claims on Church Property. The Petitioners com-planned of the spiritual destitution of that and the adjoining county of Northumber- land, especially in the thickly populated mining districts, and complained of the manner in which the surplus fund derived from the property of the Church in those districts was appropriated by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The noble Lord then asked the noble Earl the President of the Council, whether it was the intention of the Government to insert in the Bill now before the other House the two clauses which were in the similar Bill introduced by the late Government last Session, but which were omitted from the present Bill.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, it was not the intention of the Government to move the introduction of these clauses.

Petition ordered to lie on the table.