HC Deb 16 July 1990 vol 176 cc674-5
32. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how much has been spent by the Church Commissioners on assistance with community charge for archbishops, bishops, clergy and others; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alison

An estimated £8.5 million for the year beginning 1 April. The clergy and their spouses have no domestic rates savings to offset against their personal charge liability, and the Commissioners' contribution provides some three quarters of the costs of special stipend increases to help them meet the charge. The extra tax and national insurance on those increases amounts to about £4 million per annum, which is included in the Commissioners' contribution.

Mr. Greenway

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that clergymen, including archbishops, must take on a second home—they cannot own their main home—and are therefore required to pay the community charge twice? Will he press the Government to help them or to absolve them from payment on their second homes? On whom has he put his money for the next Archbishop of Canterbury? That is a matter of much interest.

Mr. Alison

On the second point, I certainly could not afford a stake on that hazardous betting lottery.

On my hon. Friend's main question, I share his sympathy for the predicament of clergy who are charged the standard community charge—often twice—on the second homes that they are buying. Such second homes are often indispensable, because the houses that they live in as clergy are tied to the job; they must quit them when they retire. They must buy their retirement houses early to be able to afford them over the lifetime of their ministry. I hope that the Secretary of State for the Environment will take note of this point when he considers the future of the standard community charge, and I shall draw my hon. Friend's question to his attention.

Mr. Anderson

The right hon. Gentleman will know that, in an effort to reduce the injustices and absurdities of the poll tax, the Government gave a lump sum for the upkeep of Church buildings, which by definition mainly assisted the established Church. Is he aware of any means of compensating the nonconformist Churches?

Mr. Alison

The hon. Gentleman has pointed out a limitation of the substantial sum—more than £3 million—that the Government made available through English Heritage towards the support of Church buildings. He is right to say that a number of the buildings of the free Churches do not qualify for such help. I shall take careful note of his criticism of that limitation, and inquire whether anything can be done to help the free Churches. I cannot commit myself to an affirmative and positive answer.