§ VISCOUNT NOVARMy Lords, I desire to ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to take up the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Bill now awaiting Second Reading in this House.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, His Majesty's Government are giving favourable consideration to this Bill. But there has been a little delay in getting further with it. That there will be even further delay is inevitable, because the noble Viscount will recall that he himself, in drafting his Bill, introduced certain variations from the 195 Committee's Report in which the general scheme was contained. Of that Committee I speak with some knowledge, because I was its Chairman and sat for a year endeavouring to make a settlement between the Church and those interested. The question of teinds which had been raised is due to the circumstance that the Bill has gone to Scotland, where they are now considering it. The state of affairs there is rather like a wasp's nest just at present, and we must let the wasps settle down. We hope that in the end they will come to something like unanimity of mind and as soon as they do we shall know where we stand. But at this moment we have not reached that stage. Until the Bill comes back well considered in Scotland we are, therefore, delayed. I promise various noble Lords, who are interested in this Bill, that there shall be good notice given of the Second Reading in order that they may, too, know that their interests are observed. When we shall reach the Second Reading stage I do not know; but the sooner the better so far as I am concerned. I cannot promise a date until I know what has been done.
§ VISCOUNT NOVARAm I to understand from the noble and learned Viscount that the Bill will be sent to the heritors who are equally interested with the Church in the matter?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORThe Bill has been read a, first time and printed, and it has gone down to Scotland. I can assure the noble Viscount that everybody there, so far as I can find out, is reading it and making, comments on it.