Mrs. RUNCIMANasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the case, Tithe Redemption, No. 36,769, in St. Ives, Cornwall, where the total amount of the redemption money amounts to £47 1s. 6d., whereas the total expenses of the redemption of these tithe rent-charges amount to £38 10s.; whether these expenses, amounting to more than three-quarters of the redemption money, are scaled according to statute; and, if so, what are the details comprised in these expenses of £38 10s.?
Mr. GUINNESSThe Order of Redemption in this case was issued on 8th June, 1925, the expenses being calculated in accordance with the scale then in force, made under the Inclosure etc. (Expenses) Act, 1868. The expenses in connection with a compulsory redemption of tithe rent-charge include the plotting on the present-day Ordnance map of the boundaries of the tithe areas from the old tithe map, a survey of the56W land, the calculation of the consideration money in the manner laid down in the Tithe Acts, the assessment of the cost of redemption amongst the various properties concerned, the collection and recovery of the various shares, the preparation and the issue of the certificate of redemption and the statutory copies, and the conduct of the necessary correspondence relating to the proceedings. I may add that a revised scale of expenses was adopted on 30th December, 1926, under which the expenses chargeable in the case referred to by the hon. Member would have been £19 0s. 10d. But this revised scale is applicable only to compulsory redemptions in which the Order of Redemption is issued after 10th November, 1926.