§ Mr. GRANVILLEasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the increasing difficulties in the collection of tithe payment in certain areas owing to the depression in arable farming; and what steps he proposes to take to meet these difficulties?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONTithe rentcharge charged on lands in England and Wales is owned by Queen Anne's Bounty (in trust for benefices and ecclesiastical corporations), the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the Welsh Church Commissioners, and various schools, colleges, charities, and individual lay-owners. The tithe rentcharge is collected by such owners, the Ministry is in no way concerned with such collection, and it has no information as to whether or not tithe owners are finding it increasingly difficult to collect their tithe rentcharge.