I have no complaint with the way that the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg) has moved the negativing of this supplementary scheme which the Church commissioners have made. This is the last day on which he could have done it. That, however, is not the fault of the Church Commissioners. Having said that I have no complaint as to the general way he deployed his arguments I at once want to rebut, on behalf of the Commissioners, any suggestion that they have acted in an underhand way, or used unworthy methods to promote the scheme with which they are associated. To demonstrate clearly to the House, even at this late hour, I must give a little information further to that which the House has so far received. At the outset, let me say that the duty of replying to a Motion of this kind would ordinarily have fallen on the Second Church Estates Commissioner. He is as yet non-existent, and that is the reason why I, from the other side of the House, and who am an elected Commissioner, find that duty put upon me.

I think that much of the criticism revolves around the suggestion that Canon Satterthwaite, the priest-in-charge, was left in ignorance of this scheme which we are considering tonight until he read of it in the newspaper. I think that I can satisfy the House that that suggestion is wholly without foundation, and that the hon. Gentleman, in sincerely believing it, no doubt, has, in fact, been categorically misinformed.