§ 12.1 a.m.
§ Mr. Terry Walker (Kingswood)I beg to move:
That the Ecclesiastical Offices (Age Limit) Measure, passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for Her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament.I wish to raise three matters about this measure. First, clergymen of the Church of England are entitled to then national insurance and Church pensions at the age of 65. Most of them, according to statistics, retire by the time they are 67 years and at present fewer than 300 of the bishops and clergy holding freehold offices are over 65 years of age. None of them—and I emphasise this—will be affected by the present measure which does not affect sitting tenants in any way.219 Secondly, the measure relates to freehold offices only. It proposes that a bishop must give up his bishopric or a clergyman must give us his freehold office, if he has one, at the age of 70. However, there is nothing to prevent him going on after the age of 70 in a post which is not freehold, that is to say, he can be an assistant bishop, a priest in charge of a parish, or he can be an assistant curate. However, the measure will prevent the situation which can arise now in which a man, continues as a rector or a vicar until he is past it and, under the present situation, nothing can be done about it.
Thirdly, the Church has taken great care—and it has been discussed—before presenting this measure to make sure that there is adequate provision for housing the retired clergy. I emphasise that many clergy are still able to obtain houses or bungalows for their retirement out of their own resources. But in addition to this, there is a mortgage scheme, on very favourable terms, and the Church of England Pensions Board has houses available for renting.
The overall result is that in one way or another clergy are able to obtain accommodation when they retire. If this measure is enacted, there will be no problem of clergy being turned out of their accommodation with nowhere to go. This measure was discussed by the Ecclesiastical Committee, which found it to be expedient.
§ Dr. Alan Glyn (Windsor and Maidenhead)I should like some information. One of the reasons behind this measure, as the hon. Gentleman said, is that so many clergy do not want to retire, simply because they have not the means to do so. Bearing in mind the very long periods on low stipends, one can appreciate that they have been unable to save enough money. The hon. Gentleman said that provisions were being made for mortgages, and so on. Obviously the matter of mortgages will not apply to the elderly. Can the hon. Gentleman give the House an undertaking that anyone who is affected as a result of this measure will be rehoused by the Commissioners?
§ Mr. WalkerThis matter has been thoroughly dealt with by the General 220 Synod. Funds have been made available in this respect. We shall try to make sure that favourable terms are offered to those who wish to buy something of their own. We have also made funds available to the Church of England Pensions Board. The board's chairman said at the Synod that he was quite satisfied with what was being done. I am sure that everything that can be done will be done to make sure that this is all right. We have given a pledge on this matter, and so far it has met with satisfaction.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§
Resolved,
That the Ecclesiastical Offices (Age Limit) Measure, passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for Her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament.