§ Dr. PETERSasked the Attorney-General whether he has yet decided to introduce a Bill to deprive the Church of England of its power of sitting in judgment in a cause between itself and one of His Majesty's subjects, and to take away its power to order the imprisonment of any such person, and/or levy execution upon his goods and chattels?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALThe hon. Member no doubt refers to the case of John Henry Stevens of Hauxton, Cambridgeshire, about which he asked a question last July. In fulfilment of the promise given by the Solicitor-General in his reply of the 11th July, a committee has been set up by the Lord Chancellor to consider the case and to report whether the remedy now provided in such cases is appropriate in modern conditions, and if not, what other remedy should be provided, what tribunal should have jurisdiction, and what procedure should be adopted for determining and enforcing liability in such cases. I propose to wait for the report of the committee before considering further what action should be taken in the matter.