ECCLESIASTICAL FEES MEASURE, 1962 (Hansard, 29 May 1962)

THE LORD BISHOP OF EXETER

My Lords, before moving the Resolution which stands in my name, I think that I ought to give your Lordships a short explanation of the contents of this Measure. I shall not weary your Lordships with any of the details but only draw your attention to its three main provisions. The first provision is to transfer from individual clergymen liability to pay fees to ecclesiastical lawyers at their ordination, at their admission to any office and at their resignation. The Measure transfers these fees from the individual clergy to 106 the Archbishop or Bishop, as the case may be, and further requires that the Archbishop or Bishop, as the case may be, shall be reimbursed by the Church Commissioners. I feel sure that this humane, if tardy, proposal will meet with your Lordships' approval.

The second main provision is to enable the Archbishops from time to time to set up an ad hoc committee to review the fees payable to ecclesiastical lawyers and to construct a new table which shall be uniform throughout the country. This committee will be composed by the Archbishops' requesting the Lord Chancellor to appoint a lawyer who has the status of a Judge; the Chairman of the Bar Council will appoint a barrister, and the President of the Law Society will appoint a solicitor. Any table of fees proposed by that committee will require the approval of the Church Assembly and later be submitted to both Houses of Parliament.

The third main provision is to enable the Church Commissioners from time to time to review the fees payable to the clergy and other persons, such as a clerk or sexton, in connection with weddings, funerals and the reservation of grave spaces. These fees, when reviewed by the Church Commissioners, will be put into a table, which will be mandatory and uniform for all parishes throughout the country. The table likewise will have to receive the approval of the Church Assembly and be laid before both Houses of Parliament. My Lords, this Measure passed through the Church Assembly without division and without amendment, except for amendments proposed by the members in charge. It may therefore fairly be said to be a non-controversial matter. It has been favourably reported on by the Ecclesiastical Committee. I beg to move the Resolution standing in my name.