HC Deb 21 March 1938 vol 333 cc860-1W
Brigadier-General Makins

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the work of tithe redemption under the Tithes Act has been commenced in Cheshire; and when he anticipates that the small tithepayers on subdivided property will be freed by the process of redemption from the present inconvenient system of collecting tithe?

Lieut.-Colonel Colville

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for East Grinstead (Colonel Clarke) on 1st February, from which it will be seen that the Tithe Redemption Commission hope to be in a position to commence the work of apportionment in the near future. Redemption will follow upon apportionment in all suitable cases, and invariably where the landowner so desires. It is intended, so far as practicable, to deal with the most urgent cases first, but the completion of the work of apportionment must necessarily take some considerable time.