Captain TERRELLasked the Prime-Minister whether the Government has any record of sales of glebe land by clergymen; whether he is aware that these private sales are often not in the interests either of the clergymen or of the tenants, since in the former case local feeling is aroused and in the latter there is often unfortunate disturbance of the lessees; whether such sales could be controlled by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; and whether, in view of the importance of the matter, he will ascertain whether any remedial steps can be taken without delay?
1923W
§ Mr. BONAR LAWSales of glebe by incumbents of benefices are, under the authority of several Acts of Parliament, carried out with the sanction of the Ministry of Agriculture or the Ecclesiastical Commissioners or the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty; records would exist in these offices; sales are sanctioned for the permanent benefit of the benefices concerned and do not cause other or greater disturbance of tenants than sales by other landowners; such sales are already under the control of the authorities named, and there appears to be no need for the provision of other control.