§ Mr. Granvilleasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the Tithe Commissioners are instituting bankruptcy proceedings for the recovery of small arrears in tithe against farmers whose assets greatly exceed their liabilities, with adverse effects upon essential food production; and if, in view of this, he will take steps to see that the Tithe Commissioners find methods of collection of arrears less likely to interfere with food production and the war effort.
§ Mr. PeakeI am aware that bankruptcy proceedings may be taken in cases where indebtedness exceeds £50 and the debtor refuses to comply with an order of the Court. There is no reason to suppose that the effect of such proceedings would be adverse to the interests of either food production or to the war effort; but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind and would let me have details, I shall be happy to look into it in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture. An alternative method of procedure would be an application to the Court on a judgment summons for the committal of the debtor to prison. Bankruptcy proceedings are, however, as a rule, more satisfactory to the Commissioners than committals, and I have no doubt that they are generally less inconvenient o the debtor.