HC Deb 04 December 1941 vol 376 cc1272-3W
Sir W. Jenkins

asked the Home Secretary on what date are the present Commissioners of Church Temporalities in Wales due to retire; is it proposed that the term of office shall be extended; what are the total expenses incurred by the Commissioners in the task of carrying the Act into effect; and what are the principal items making up that amount?

Mr. H. Morrison

The dissolution of the Commission was suspended by Order in Council in 1935 for seven years to the end of 1942, at which time the question will be reviewed. The total expenses and the principal items making up that amount are set out on page 5 of the published accounts of the Commissioners for 1939. It is expected that the accounts for the year 1940 will be presented by the Comptroller and Auditor-General at an early date.

Sir W. Jenkins

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that no attempt has been made by the Commissioners of the Church Temporalities in Wales to make any payments to the county councils who are beneficiaries under the Act; can he state the cause of the delay and why no interim payments have been made?

Mr. Morrison

In annual reports which are laid before Parliament and sent to the beneficiaries concerned and also at a special meeting called in January, 1940, at which representatives of the Welsh county and county borough councils and of the Welsh University were present, the difficulties which have delayed payments have been fully explained. I understand that the Commissioners are now prepared to transfer land and buildings and the net income from them which has accrued since 29th September, 1939, without waiting for the completion of the valuation, to any of the councils prepared to accept them. With regard to the invested funds, when the Commissioners' accounts for the year 1941 have been completed and the valuations of the lands and buildings have made further progress, figures will be drawn up with a view to obtaining an approximate estimate of the value of the invested funds, lands and buildings due to each beneficiary, and it is hoped that the Commissioners will then be able to make an interim distribution of invested funds.