§ THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY rose to move. That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Clergy Pensions (Amendment) Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent. The most reverend Primate said: My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name. I do not think I need detain your Lordships for long over this small Measure. Its purpose is fully set out in the Comments and Explanations of the Legislative Committee of the Church Assembly, which are appended to the Report of the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament.
§ Briefly, the object of the Measure is to remove a difficulty which might arise if a Bishop or clergyman availed himself of the right which he has under the Clergy Pensions Measure 1961 to retire before the retiring age laid down, on a proportionately reduced pension. The retiring age has recently been reduced to 68 and a Bishop or clergyman can, under the Measure, claim a reduced pension at 63, two years before he becomes entitled to the State pension. Another clause of the Measure, intended to ensure that no one is in real need, requires the Pensions Board to take account of a pensioner's income from all sources and to augment it to a specified figure, which is at present £835. It will thus be seen that the Board could be compelled to make up a man's income by the amount of the State pension for the two years between 63 and 65. If a man retires voluntarily on a reduced pension—he cannot be compelled to do so—this would seem to be an unjustifiable use of Church funds.
§ The Measure therefore ensures that the age for voluntary retirement is not earlier than the age at which the State 842 pension is payable, whatever that may be now or in the future. I must emphasise that the rights of those who have to retire through infirmity are in no way affected, and the powers of the Pensions Board to treat them as generously as possible are not reduced. I trust, therefore, that your Lordships will find no difficulty in allowing this Measure to go forward for the Royal Assent. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Clergy Pensions (Amendment) Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.