§ 28. Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark, North and Bermondsey)What processes they use for consulting Church members on their proposals. [114844]
§ Mr. Stuart Bell(Second Church Estates Commissioner, representing the Church Commissioners)The Commissioners send copies of draft schemes under the Pastoral Measure 1983 by post to parochial church councils and other interested parties. If the scheme is to declare a church redundant, or to deal with the future of a redundant church, they also publish a notice in a local newspaper. Anyone may make representations to the commissioners within the period of at least 28 days prescribed in the notice. On the matter of finances, the commissioners' annual report and accounts will be published shortly and will be widely disseminated within the Church and to the general public.
§ Mr. HughesOn the issue of Church finances, the Church Commissioners are the equivalent of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Can we ensure that every Church member at diocese, deanery and parish level is annually consulted about the Church's financial policy—for example, on questions of ethical investment and where money should be spent? We must establish a democratic process by which to decide how the Church raises money and how it spends it.
§ Mr. BellThe Church Commissioners will spend their money in accordance with the statute, to pay the stipends of the parish priests and also the pensions. That is our statutory responsibility. In relation to the annual report and accounts, we will seek to disseminate that information as widely as we can. While we welcome suggestions about how we should spend our money, we are nevertheless bound by statute and our statutory obligations.
§ Mr. Andrew Reed (Loughborough)Although I welcome the attempts to make the process as open and accountable as possible, does my hon. Friend agree that ordinary church members in the constituencies, like ourselves, feel a long way away from the decision-making process, particularly on questions of ethical investment? Will my hon. Friend give the matter further consideration to see whether there could be greater involvement for ordinary church members, like many of those in the House, who have little say over the present arrangements?
§ Mr. BellI am grateful for my hon. Friend's question. He will be pleased to know, as the House will be pleased to know, that the unaudited results of the Commissioners for 1999 show that their assets fully committed to the support of the Church's ministry were valued at more than £4.4 billion at the end of last year. I am sure that every churchgoer in the land will be happy to see that, if I may say so, under my stewardship the assets of the Church Commissioners has risen from £3 billion to £4.4 billion.