Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 January 1997.
Mr Michael Alison
, Selby
12:00,
27 January 1997
Disestablishment would not lie with the Church commissioners to initiate and, without formal instructions and definitions, cost estimates are impracticable.
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.
