§ 39. Mr. Dribergasked the hon. Member for Chelsea, as Member answering for the Church Commissioners, what is the policy of the Church Commissioners with regard to their investments in South Africa; and to what extent they take into account the level of wages paid to African employees by British firms in South Africa when considering investment in such firms.
§ Mr. Marcus Worsley (Second Church Estates Commissioner representing Church Commissioners)It is the commissioners' long-standing policy not to own direct investments in South Africa or in companies operating wholly or mainly in that country. They take social as well as financial factors into account in the choice and management of all their investments.
§ Mr. DribergDoes that answer the second part of my Question? Also, will the commissioners co-operate fully, if required, with the Select Committee of this House concerned with this matter, possibly by collecting evidence themselves from clergy still operating in South Africa or recently expelled thence, such as the former Dean of Johannesburg?
§ Mr. WorsleyThe commissioners would, of course, co-operate with any Committee of this House, but that cooperation would have to be on matters which were the responsibility of the commissioners. I think that the hon. Gentleman's remarks go rather wider than that.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonWould the commissioners also take part in an operation to inquire from the boards of the 934 companies in which they have investments the pay and conditions of employees of their African subsidiaries, because the Church Commissioners could be vital in this respect?
§ Mr. WorsleyThe commissioners, as I said in my original answer, always take social considerations into account; that would cover the hon. Gentleman's question.