§ 21. Mr. Greenwayasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, what progress has been made with the implementation of equal pay policies for employees of the Church Commissioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeThe Church Commissioner's employees are paid in accordance with Civil Service scales. The implementation of an equal pay policy was completed in 1961.
§ Mr. GreenwayDo any open or clandestine plans exist to pay women priests and bishops equally with existing priests and bishops? Does my hon. Friend expect that to happen within his lifetime?
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeAs to my lifetime, I am afraid that I can give no forecast whatever, but at the present rate of questions to the Church Commissioners I do not think that it will be very long. On the more serious topic, there is nothing clandestine about the activities of the Church Commissioners. They deal with the law as it is, and at present there are no female priests or bishops.