HC Deb 27 April 1939 vol 346 cc1330-1W
Mr. De Chair

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many summonses have been issued for refusal to pay tithe or arrears of tithe since the coming into force of the Tithe Redemption Act; how many convictions there have been; and how many forced sales of farmers' property to meet defaults in tithe payments or arrears of payment during this period?

Captain Crookshank

The actual number of cases of recovery under the Tithe Act, 1936, of arrears of annuities and tithe rentcharge is not available and could not be ascertained without very considerable labour. In a large number of cases payment has been made before the application has been heard and in all but a negligible proportion of the other cases an Order for recovery has been made. These proceedings are, however, civil and not criminal and there is no question of convictions. As regards the last part of the question, information as to the steps taken by officers of the Court to enforce orders does not necessarily reach the Commission, but it is believed that sales of goods under Orders of the Court have been very few.