Lieut.-Colonel Clarkeasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury when the Tithe Redemption Commission expects to start the task of apportionment of tithe-rent charge in respect of land in the ownership of two or more owners; whether he is aware that the delay is causing very great embarrassment to large numbers of persons, since the tithe commissioners are still adopting their normal policy of collecting the whole amount due from one tenant and compelling him to recover from the others; that such a tenant can only recover at considerable expense the small sums which may be due to him; and when he expects that the task of apportionment will be commenced in Sussex?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to him on 10th December last. The Tithe Redemption Commission hope to be in a position to commence the work of apportionment in April next, in Sussex as well as in other counties. It is intended, so far as is practicable, to deal with the most urgent cases first. Wherever there is evidence of agreement between the landowners concerned as to the proportions in which an annuity should be collected, the Commission will arrange to collect on that basis, pending formal apportionment. In some cases where there is no such agreement, it may be possible to collect on a rotation basis. A considerable period must necessarily elapse before the work of apportionment is completed, but it is hoped by the procedure contemplated to minimise difficulties arising from the legal liability of the owner of any part of a tithe area to pay the whole of a redemption annuity.
I should make it clear that ownership and not tenancy determines liability for payment. If, in any case, a demand has been made by inadvertence upon the tenant, he should communicate with the Commission's Collector from whom he received the demand, at the same time giving the name and address of the owner of the land.