Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 March 1991.
Mr Harry Greenway
, Ealing North
12:00,
4 March 1991
To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church commissioners, what will be the salary and perquisites of the next Archbishop of Canterbury; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Michael Alison
, Selby
The stipend for the next Archbishop of Canterbury will be about £41,000 a year. As is the case for all diocesan bishops, he will be provided with rent-free accommodation and an official car.
Mr Harry Greenway
, Ealing North
Will my right hon. Friend wish the incoming archbishop every success and happiness in the important task that he is taking on? Will he invite him to dissociate himself immediately from the remarks made by the Bishop of Durham at the weekend and to express strong support for a proper victory parade and service of thanksgiving for success in the Gulf?
Mr Michael Alison
, Selby
I do not think that Dr. Carey will be able to make a formal statement on such matters before his official enthronement in mid-April. Meanwhile, I note that at least two diocesan bishops—the Bishops of Chester and Peterborough—have dissociated themselves in the most robust terms from the comments by the Bishop of Durham and have expressed the hope that there should be such a celebration.
Matters concerning the established Church of England are dealt with at Question Time by a parliamentary representative of the church commissioners.
The church commissioner's role is to answer any parliamentary questions relating to the Church of England in the same way that a government minister may face questions about a particular government department.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner is appointed by the crown and is traditionally a backbench member of the party in government. The appointment lasts for the duration of the Parliament.
