HL Deb 19 March 1959 vol 215 cc72-3

3.8 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 Vacancies in Sees Measure, 1959, be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent. The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, I beg to move the Resolution standing in my name on the Order Paper. There are a number of Acts and Measures which necessitate action by the Bishop of a See, or the consent of the Bishop to action by other people. Difficulties are liable to arise If there is no Bishop owing to a vacancy in the See. On a vacancy, the duties of the Bishop as spiritual head of his diocese become the responsibility of the guardian of the spiritualities, who is usually the Archbishop, but in certain cases is the Dean and Chapter. Modern Measures always provide for the guardian of the spiritualities to act in appropriate cases, but in older Acts and Measures the point was often not considered; and difficulties and undesirable delays may occur as a result. The purpose of this Measure is to allow the guardian of the spiritualities to exercise the Bishop's powers under certain of these older Acts and Measures where it seems appropriate that he should.

This Measure was regarded as entirely non-controversial by the Assembly, and no objection to it was raised. There was a previous version of this Measure which came before the Ecclesiastical Committee. That Committee was doubtful about one clause, and the Measure was withdrawn. This second version was prepared without the clause in question, thus resolving the doubts of the Ecclesiastical Committee.

Moved, to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Vacancies in Sees Measure. 1959, be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Bishop of London.)

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)

My Lords, I do not rise to oppose this Motion but—though this may strain your Lordships'credulity—the speech which the right reverend Prelate has just made is a "maiden," and I should like to say how much we welcome his maiden speech and the next one which he will be making almost at once. I hope that the right reverend Prelate will come to the House on many occasions to speak on subjects on which he will have real scope for his obvious Parliamentary abilities.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, I am sure that noble Lords of all Parties will desire to he associated with what the noble Earl has said. We wish the right reverend Prelate the very best spiritual success in the great charge he has undertaken. I hope that the Measure which he has just introduced will have the proper disciplinary effect during any absence of the normal Bishop.

On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.