Pastoral Measure (Hansard, 21 April 1983)

§ The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir William van Straubenzee)
I beg to move, That the Pastoral 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.

§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Paul Dean)
It might be helpful if I were to advise the House on the scope of the debate. This measure consolidates two other measures and related enactments with some minor improvements and corrections, as set out in the Ecclesiastical Committee's report, House of Commons Paper 283 of 1982–83. Debate should be confined, therefore, to the question whether the law should be consolidated or left expressed in a number of different measures. Reference may also be made to the improvements and corrections set out in the report of the Ecclesiastical Committee.

§ Sir William van Straubenzee
In view of the ruling that you have just very helpfully given, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I shall speak to the motion briefly, because, as you have said, this is essentially a consolidation measure. However, perhaps I might be permitted to say that I know that only very binding public commitments have led to the absence of the hon. Member for Bury and Radcliffe (Mr. White) from this debate. He is always assiduous in his attendance and watchfulness over Church legislation on behalf of the Opposition, but I know that his place is very ably taken by the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), who combines a quiet approach with deadly interrogation. I look forward with no pleasure whatever to the questions he may want to ask me.
As you have said, Mr. Deputy Speaker, this measure consolidates the Pastoral Measure 1968, the Pastoral (Amendment) Measure 1982, and four other statutory provisions that are identified in schedule 9. Other measures are also mentioned there, which hake been wholly repealed. The consolidation was set in hand largely at the suggestion of the Ecclesiastical Committee. It was felt to be for the general convenience of practitioners both at the centre and in the dioceses. The House is always conscious of legislating for people who have to follow the law, whatever it may be. Therefore, it is both helpful and convenient that it should be set out under one cover.
Within the provisions of our consolidation procedures there are certain minor amendments. I do not need to weary the House with them, but they are set out—as hon. Members will know—and clearly explained in the report of the Ecclesiastical Committee. Although I shall do my best to answer any question on them, I hope that it will not be necessary to go through them in detail. In the past the House has approved both measures upon which the consolidation is based, and I hope that it will feel it proper to allow the matter to proceed, as recommended by the Ecclesiastical Committee.

§ Mr. Frank Field (Birkenhead)
I am here this evening to apologise for the absence of my hon. Friend the Member for Bury and Radcliffe (Mr. White). When the measure came before the Ecclesiastical Committee, I had nothing to say and, despite the eloquence with which the hon. 505 Member for Wokingham (Sir W. van Straubenzee) moved the measure, I still have nothing of substance to add to the debate.