§ 34. Laura Moffatt (Crawley)If he will make a statement on progress on the financial implications of the Department of Trade and Industry discussion paper on extending employment rights under the Employment Relations Act 1999 to members of the clergy. [17018]
§ Mr. Stuart Bell (Second Church Estates Commissioner, representing the Church Commissioners)It is always a pleasure to respond on behalf of other Departments. In the case of the DTI, however, the discussion paper is still awaited.
§ Laura MoffattI understand why my hon. Friend finds it difficult to answer on behalf of the DTI, but many of my hon. Friends are very concerned about the issue. We strive to achieve good employment relations on behalf of many workers and see no reason why the clergy should 17 be left out. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is time to get on with the report and to respond quickly on behalf of those workers?
§ Mr. BellI certainly encourage questions on that subject on the Floor of the House and I am glad to see that many of my hon. Friends have raised the issue before. The Archbishops Council has set up a group that is exploring what can and should be done to give clergy the rights they could and should expect if they were employees, and I will draw my hon. Friend's question to the council's attention.