I beg to move, That, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Parochial Registers and Records Measure, 1929, be presented to His Majesty for Royal Assent. Very few words are necessary to commend this Measure to the House. It is one for safeguarding the custody of parish records and registers. The report of the Ecclesiastical Committee, who have considered the matter, is a favourable one. They consider that it is not only necessary for the religious authorities that these registers and records should be properly preserved, but that it is also of benefit to the general public that that should be done. The Measure has been approved by the Ecclesiastical Committee.

The hon. and gallant Member is perfectly right in commending this Measure to the House. It is a tragedy that some such Measure was not law years ago. The wanton and idle destruction of ecclesiastical registers and records in the past has made the work of compiling history a matter of great difficulty. We must be grateful to think that in the future these registers will be kept in a proper condition, under proper responsibility, and that these documents, which really are public property, will be properly preserved. I have very great pleasure in supporting the Measure.

Question put, and agreed to.