Oral Answers to Questions — Church Commissioners – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 6 December 2004.
Ben Chapman
PPS (Rt Hon Richard Caborn, Minister of State), Department for Culture, Media & Sport
2:30,
6 December 2004
What recent assessment the commissioners have made of the work of the Department of Trade and Industry working group looking at terms of employment for members of the clergy.
Stuart Bell
Second Church Estates Commissioner
No concrete proposals have emerged from the DTI working group's meetings to date.
Ben Chapman
PPS (Rt Hon Richard Caborn, Minister of State), Department for Culture, Media & Sport
Does my hon. Friend think that satisfactory? I recognise that the wheels turn exceedingly slowly in respect of Church matters, but can he indicate whether any progress has been made, what direction the working group is taking, and when we might expect some form of announcement?
Stuart Bell
Second Church Estates Commissioner
The thrust of my hon. Friend's question is a matter for the DTI, since it is up to its working group to introduce concrete proposals. The working group's discussions concerning the service review have been reported back to the clergy, and a report on the second phase of its work will be submitted to the Archbishops Council later this month.
"The mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness He grinds all."
I would submit that, at the end of the day, we may reach the conclusion that my hon. Friend wishes.
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.
