§ Mr. STUART-WORTLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data and method of computation were adopted in the making of his estimate that the value of the life interests of existing incumbents of benefices who may be affected by the Established Church (Wales) Bill is equal to £62,000 a year in perpetuity?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe average age of the incumbents in six representative Welsh Counties (three rural and agricultural, and three industrial) was estimated at between fifty-eight and fifty-nine. The expectation of life at this age is approximately fifteen years, and the actuarial calculation was based on this figure. The value of the life interest in perpetuity was calculated at the rate of 3 per cent.
Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use is at present made of the income of the Established Church in Wales which it is proposed to divert for educational and similar purposes; and whether, in so far as such income is used for other than purely ecclesiastical purposes, any hardship will be inflicted by the proposals of the Government or any additional burden placed upon the local authorities?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe income of the Established Church in Wales which it is proposed to alienate, is now applied in providing the stipends, or parts of the stipends of bishops, cathedral corporations, and incumbents. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. FRANCEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total amount of benefit received by the Church of England in Wales derived from tithes payable at the present time?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe net parochial income of the Church of England in Wales derived from tithe rent-charge amounts to £110,760. The Welsh property of the Ecclesiastical Commissoners of the annual value of £26,700, which in part meets the liabilty of the Commissioners in respect of Welsh diocesan incomes, consists to some extent of tithe, but I am unable to state the amount.
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§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why two of the Welsh Commissioners appointed to carry out the provisions of the Established Church (Wales) Bill are to be paid, while the third Commissioner is not to be paid?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Bill follows the precedent laid down in the Bills of 1895 and 1909 in this respect. A similar method was adopted in the case of the Church Estates Commissioners, which appears to have worked well.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what constitutes a member of the Church in Wales for the purposes of Clause 22 of the Established Church (Wales) Bill?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt will be competent to the Church in Wales to determine what persons are entitled to claim membership of that Church.