§ 22. Mr. Greenwayasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what financial and educational arrangements are made for the orphans of deceased clergymen; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeWhile I am sympathetic to the needs of orphans of deceased clergymen, I must point out that the commissioners have no statutory authority to make direct financial provision for them. I am, however, sending my hon. Friend details of the pensions scheme administered by the Church of England Pensions Board and of the assistance which may be available from charitable sources.
§ Mr. GreenwayI assume that it would be out of order to ask whether my hon. Friend agrees with the artist who considered that Jesus was a woman, but does he agree that clergymen—and perhaps, in future, clergywomen—are underpaid and so have difficulty in making provision for the educational, housing and financial needs of 'heir children? Will the Church Commissioners look at the whole problem sympathetically?
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeI hope that the details that I shall send my hon. Friend today will assist him. I should draw attention to the stalwart and splendid work of the Clergy Orphans Corporation, which, in 1983, disbursed £157,000 on behalf of orphans. That is no mean figure. I should be very grateful if my hon. Friend would draw attention to that work.
§ Mr. Peter BruinvelsI am very sad to hear my hon. Friend's reply. These days extreme pressure is put on clergymen and it is a fact of life that some die in office. Many children who are now in school may have to leave because the Church Commissioners are unable to find the funds. I hope that something can be done by the Church Commissioners, because the education of those children could be interrupted. As one who went to a school attended by many clergymen's sons, I know that such schools are invaluable to them for their education. I hope that my hon. Friend will reconsider his decision.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeIf my hon. Friend has an individual case in mind, I should be extremely sorry if he did not use me as his channel of inquiry. The commissioners are having discussions with the pensions board, and it may well be that further consideration can be given to that aspect of the matter.
§ Mr. CormackWill my hon. and doctrinally sound Friend try to ensure that any clergymen's orphans within the diocese of Durham are brought up to believe in the virgin birth and the other essential tenets of the Christian faith?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I do not think that that question had much to do with orphans.