§ Q1. Mr. Cordleasked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation so that the power to appoint suffragan bishops shall rest with the Prime Minister of the day.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)No, Sir. Under existing legislation the power to appoint suffragan bishops rests with Her Majesty the Queen.
§ Mr. CordleIs the Prime Minister aware that there is a feeling, shared by many, that the Evangelical representation is disproportionately low and should be dealt with? Is there likely to be legislation following the Howick Commission's recommendation? Will the right hon. Gentleman set in motion legislation to correct the unfairness?
§ The Prime MinisterThe present practice and law require the diocesan bishop to make a petition to the Queen. I cannot comment on what the hon. Gentleman has said about the theological views of the bishops. As he knows, the Church Assembly is still considering the Report of the Archbishops' Commission on Crown Appointments, and I think that we should wait to see what views it reaches on this matter before considering it any further.
§ Mr. Peter MillsIs the Prime Minister aware that there is a very real problem here because, to put it bluntly, many Evangelicals feel that they are not getting a fair crack of the whip in this?
§ The Prime MinisterIf it is a question of appointment of suffragan bishops, to which the Question on the Order Paper refers, that is entirely a matter for recommendation to be made by diocesan bishops, but I have said that the whole matter is under consideration by the Church Assembly and perhaps we should wait to see what the Assembly says.