Tithe Redemption Commission

HC Deb 22 July 1959 vol 609 cc133-4W

Sir H. d'Avigdor-Goldsmid

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements for discharging the functions of the Tithe Redemption Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Simon

No. The Tithe Acts of both 1936 and 1951 envisaged the possibility that the functions laid by those Acts on the Tithe Redemption Commission might subsequently be transferred to another Government Department; and the Government consider that the work of the Commission has reached the stage at which such a change is both practicable and desirable in the interests of economical administration. It is therefore proposed that the whole of these functions should be transferred to the Board of Inland Revenue with effect from 1st April, 1960. Under the powers conferred by Section 11 of the Tithe Act, 1951, this transfer may be effected by Order in Council, and the draft of an Order to this end is being laid before Parliament.