§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
951§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (EARL STANHOPE)My Lords, this is a short Bill of only one operative clause, and the reason of it is this. When the first Welsh Church Act became law in 1914, the University of Wales consisted of only three University Colleges: the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth, the University College of North Wales, and the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire. In 1920 the University College of Swansea came into existence, and everybody agrees that the property of the Church which would have been distributed between those three University Colleges ought now to be distributed amongst the four. All the three Colleges concerned, and the University of Wales, have passed a resolution agreeing to the amendment proposed by the Bill; and of course the University College of Swansea has also, naturally, approved it. I think everybody concerned has been consulted and agrees with this Bill. I hope therefore that your Lordships will be prepared to give it a Second Reading. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Earl Stanhope.)
§ LORD CLWYDMy Lords, the noble Earl in charge of the Bill has made the situation absolutely clear in regard to this amending Bill. As I had the honour of serving as a Welsh Church Commissioner some years ago, I am naturally interested in all benefits under the Welsh Church Act. As the noble Earl has said, it is plainly necessary, having regard to the fact that the University College in Swansea has come into being since the passing of the Act, that there should be a reapportionment of the funds which are ultimately payable to these educational bodies. I was very glad to hear the noble Earl say that all the University Colleges have been consulted. As he has said that they all agree with the terms of this Bill, I feel sure that it will pass without a Division.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.