HL Deb 19 March 1970 vol 308 cc1240-1

3.27 p.m.

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Collegiate Churches (Capital Endowments) Measure, has consented to place Her interest, so far as it is concerned on behalf of the Crown, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Measure.

THE LORD BISHOP OF ROCHESTER rose to move, That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Collegiate Churches (Capital Endowments) Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent. The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, I now beg to move the second Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. This Measure is designed to correct an omission from the Cathedrals Measure 1963. That Measure repeals certain provisions in the Ecclesiastical Commission Act, 1868, which enables land to be transferred by an Order in Council to the Dean and Chapter of a cathedral or collegiate church. But the 1963 Measure enables similar transfers to be made to the Dean and Chapter of cathedrals. This Measure now makes similar provision for the two collegiate churches, Westminster Abbey and St. George's, Windsor.

As it hardly seems necessary for such a transaction to be authorised by Order in Council today, the Measure provides that it may be done with the consent of the Visitor. In the case of Westminster Abbey, this is Her Majesty The Queen, and in the case of St. George's, Windsor, it is the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor. At no stage in the consideration of this private Measure has there been any objection, and the Ecclesiastical Committee is of opinion that it is expedient. The effect will be to make these two Royal peculiars slightly less peculiar in this one particular respect.

Moved, That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Collegiate Churches (Capital Endowments) Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Bishop of Rochester.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.