§ Mr. AMMONasked the hon. and gallant Member for North-East Leeds, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who is the official appointed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to authorise payment of episcopal costs in ecclesiastical causes under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' Measure, 1926; whether the solicitors employed by the Bishop of Gloucester in the action against the Rector of Avening last April were previously approved in accordance with that Measure; and whether the payment of the bishop's costs in the action have been approved by the appointed official and what was the amount?
§ Major BIRCHALLThe official so appointed is Mr. Geoffrey Lawrence, K.C.; the Ecclesiastical Commissioners approved the solicitors appointed by the Bishop, being the firm of which the Bishop's legal secretary is a member; the Bishop's costs will be payable by the Commissioners, but the Bill has not yet been delivered. When the amount is known, I shall be happy to inform the hon. Member.