§ 25. Mr. Greenwayasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners. when and where the Church Commissioners will next be meeting; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeThe commissioners' board of governors and committees meet regularly and the annual general meeting of the commissioners will be held on 26 June this year at Lambeth palace.
§ Mr. GreenwayWill my hon. Friend invite the Church Commissioners at their next meeting to send a commendation, official of unofficial, to all those bishops who fought so valiantly in the other place to prevent the reduction in the divorce waiting period from three years to one year, thereby preserving the sanctity of marriage?
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeI know that the Church Commissioners as such have no responsibility for this measure, and I also know that many Anglicans were deeply upset by the somewhat intemperate words used about some of the bishops by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor.
§ Mr. CormackWhen the commissioners next meet, will my hon. Friend think of inviting my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Beaumont-Dark) and other similar philistines so that the Church Commissioners can explain to them the enormous value of our historic churches and how men and women in succeeding ages have sought to express their worship and devotion in that way? Perhaps the philistine will be enlightened.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeI am happy to say that, as my presence among them shows, the Church Commissioners are made up of all shades of opinion.
§ Mr. RymanWill the Church Commissioners be discussing the serious problem of low pay among clergy? Does the hon. Gentleman agree that, despite the increase in the size of parishes, the pay of clergy has remained abysmally low? Does he agree that, although pay has been increased periodically in the past five years, though only by very small sums, many clergy continue to suffer severe financial hardship in the present economic conditions?
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeI think that I would claim for the Church Commissioners that they have secured what might almost be described as a revolution in the levels of stipend and, equally important, pension over the last years. However, inherited income produces a decreasing proportion of the money necessary and, therefore, a heavier burden rightly falls each year on the laity of the Church of England.