§ 4.19 p.m.
§ THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON rose to move to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Ecclesiastical Dilapidations Measures, 1923 to 1929 (Amendment) Measure, 1951, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent. The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, I have the honour to introduce three small Ecclesiastical Measures. They have all been predigested by the Ecclesiastical Committee, and that Committee affirms that the Measures are not in any degree contentious and do not conflict with any of the constitutional rights of His Majesty's subjects. The first is an Ecclesiastical Dilapidations Measure. It will be known to noble Lords that the custom in the past has been to assess dilapidations of a parson's house once every five years. During the war, arrangements were made by which that assessment took place once every seven years. It was found so agreeable a solution of difficulties at that time that it is now desired to extend it. Unfortunately, the Measure that would allow it ran out on January 1 of this year, and therefore a new Measure is necessary in order to make it possible again. I beg to move.
§ Moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Ecclesiastical Dilapidations Measures, 1923 to 1929 (Amendment) Measure, 1951, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Bishop of London.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.