§ Mr. Spensasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the total amount of tithe rentcharge which was payable immediately before the passing of the Tithe Act, 1936; the total amount of redemption annuities which became chargeable in lieu thereof under the Act; the present amount of redemption annuities after deducting annuities which have been redeemed; and the number of individuals who are liable for the payment of annuities?
§ Captain CrookshankThe total amount of tithe rentcharge which was payable in 1936 is estimated at £3,325,000, and the total amount of annuities chargeable in lieu thereof is approximately £2,830,000. After deducting annuities which have been redeemed, the present amount is £2,817,000, charged to approximately 420,000 landowners.
§ Mr. Spensasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the total amount of arrears of tithe rentcharge outstanding when the Tithe Act, 1936, came into operation; the total amount of the remissions of arrears which have been made under that Act; the total amount of arrears of tithe rentcharge which are still outstanding; and whether he can state the number of individual tithe payers who are liable for the outstanding arrears?
§ Captain CrookshankThe arrears in respect of which notices were served by tithe owners under Section 20 of the Tithe Act, 1936, or payment was made by tithe-payers to the Tithe Redemption Commission without the service of such notices amount to approximately £550,000. The amount of arrears which were outstanding when that Act came into operation and which have been paid to tithe-owners without the service of such notices is not known.
The amount of remission directed to be allowed by the Arrears Investigation Committee in respect of arrears totalling 2614W £126,912 which were referred 1o them is £25,366. The Committee also directed that payment by instalments should be allowed in respect of (a) the recoverable balance of arrears amounting to £42,944 where some remission was allowed, and (b) arrears amounting to £21,;336 where no remission was allowed.
Approximately £117,000, including amounts payable by instalments, is still outstanding in respect of arrears from approximately 7,600 landowners.
§ Mr. Medlicottasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the total amount of redemption stock which will be issued under the Tithe Act, 1936, as compensation for tithe rent-charge; the total amount of tithe redemption annuities charged by that Act; the amounts of annuities collected in respect of the years 1937 and 1938, or the amounts remaining unpaid, through default, for those years; and the cost of collecting these annuities?
§ Captain CrookshankThe total amount of redemption stock to be issued as compensation for tithe rentcharge is estimated at approximately £69,100,000. The total amount of redemption annuities charged by the Tithe Act, 1936, is approximately £2,830,000. Of the half-yearly instalments of redemption annuities collectable for 1937,98½ per cent. has been paid, and for 1938, 94½ per cent. has been paid. The 1½ per cent. outstanding for 1937 and the 5½ per cent. outstanding for 1938 include annuities still in process of being paid, and the amount remaining unpaid through default is not available. The commission payable to Collectors averages 3 per cent. on the amount collected.