Lieut. - Colonel Clarkeasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what progress has been made with the apportionment of tithe rentcharge under the Tithe Act, 1936; whether he will state the numbers of charges which have been apportioned and the counties in which this has taken place; and what action of the kind suggested is being taken in Sussex?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleThe Tithe Redemption Commission is responsible, under the Tithe Act, 1936, for the apportionment of annuities charged in lieu of tithe rentcharge in respect of land in the ownership of two or more owners. The total number of such annuities is very large. Much preliminary investigation is necessary and a considerable period of time must elapse before apportionment is728W completed throughout the country. I understand that the Commission, which has had a great many duties to perform since it was appointed on 1st August, 1936, has made substantial progress with the preliminary investigations, and that the work of apportionment will be commenced in 1938. It is the intention to give preference, as far as practicable, to those cases in which apportionment is most urgent.