§ 24. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the income of the Church Commissioners arising from rents on shop properties in the London borough of Barnet.
§ Mr. Michael Alison (Second Church Estates Commissioner, Representing the Church Commissioners)The answer is £830,000 per annum.
§ Mr. MarshallHow much of that is accounted for by rents on shops in Golders Green road? Will my right hon. Friend assure me that in future rent reviews the Church Commissioners will take account of the fact that some shops have already had to close because of the level of rents in that street?
§ Mr. AlisonI cannot without notice give a precise breakdown, in relation to Golders Green road, of the global figure. However, I can tell my hon. Friend that whenever the 47 or so shops which the Church 881 Commissioners own in Golders Green road have a change in their rental liability due to the falling in of the lease, or because the lease provides for a break clause, in each case there will be an opportunity for arbitration, either through the High Court or through an independent arbitration service, to secure a fair rent when the rents are renewed.
§ Mr. PikeDo not the rents in Barnet demonstrate the problems that the Church would have if it had to depend on its present membership? Does not that highlight the dangers that would arise if there was a move towards the disestablishment of the Church of England?
§ Mr. AlisonAs the hon. Gentleman suggests, disestablishment would not he advantageous to the Church of England. One reason would be the vesting in the Church Commissioners of very large historical assets which have descended, as it were, into the lap of the Church Commissioners. The question of how those assets would be redistributed and subsequently managed in the event of disestablishment is perplexing and difficult.