§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Disestablishment and Disendowment Bill of 1909 would take away from the arch-deaconry of Monmouth £34,329 from the total endowments of £36,029, leaving £1,700 or approximately 1s. in the £; that, out of the 137 parishes in the archdeaconry, 87 would have every farthing taken from them, that 10 parishes would retain an income of under £10 a year, and that, of these, two parishes would receive £1 a year; and whether, in the event of the reintroduction of the Bill, he is prepared to amend the Bill with a view to remove these hardships?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I 999W presume the hon. Member refers to the Established Church (Wales) Bill, 1909, and to the official Return of 1906, which gives particulars of private benefactions since 1703. Some of the figures given do not appear to be quite in accordance with the Return, and, moreover, as I pointed out on 25th April, the line between private benefactions preserved or not preserved to the Church was drawn in the Bill of 1909 at 1662, and not 1703. I cannot make any statement as regards a future Bill.