§ Mr. NEEDHAMasked the hon. Member for the Doncaster Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, what is the total amount of Grants made in England and Wales (separately if possible) by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty, respectively, during the last ten years to increase the Endowments, including the provision of residences, of benefices in private patronage; and whether any condition is annexed to such Grants that, in the event of the advowson of a benefice to which a Grant has been made being sold, the amount of the Grant shall be refunded either wholly or in part?
§ Sir CHARLES NICHOLSONBy the courtesy of the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty I am enabled to answer that part of the hon. Member's question which relates to that body. The amounts of the Grants are set out in the appended tabular statement. No such condition as is mentioned in the question is annexed to any of the capital Grants by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners or Queen Anne's Bounty, but in each case a benefaction of at least an equal amount has been received from the patron or some other voluntary source. Of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' annual Grants, however, £12,689 are subject to the condition that they shall cease to be payable immediately upon any transfer of the patronage taking place unless by such transfer the patronage be made public. Aggregate Grants made during the last ten years by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and Queen Anne's Bounty for the augmentation of Benefices in Private Patronage (including Grants made for the provision, or improvement of residence houses):—