§ 3.6 p.m.
§ LORD FERRIERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of the Declaration of the Vatican Council broadly accepting the principle of a fixed Easter and of the Resolution of the General Council of The World Presbyterian Alliance at Frankfurt in similar terms, they will now take steps to bring into force the Easter Act, 1928.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, if we were to bring the Easter Act, 916 1928, into operation now Easter would be celebrated in the United Kingdom on a different date from that applying in the rest of the world. I am sure that this would not be acceptable to the Churches in this country. If, however, the Churches throughout the world were to reach agreement on a date for Easter the position would be different. My information is that the World Council of Churches at its meeting at Enugu, Eastern Nigeria, which ends to-day, has been considering, among other things, a proposal put forward by the British Council of Churches for the opening of discussions with the Holy See on this subject. Her Majesty's Government await with interest the outcome of this proposal.
§ LORD FERRIERMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his helpful reply.