§ 9.47 p.m.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen to acquaint the House that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Bishops (Retirement) Measure, has consented to place her prerogative and interests, so far as they are affected by the measure, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the measure.
§ The Lord Bishop of Rochester rose to move, That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Bishops (Retirement) Measure be presented to Her Majesty for Royal Assent.
§ The right reverend Prelate said: My Lords, I should like to speak to the two Motions standing in my name on the Order Paper, standing as they do, between outer space and fresh meat.
§ This first Measure seeks to simplify the law and removes the necessity for the retirement of a diocesan 1109 or a suffragan bishop to be confirmed by the Queen in council. That is why the Measure requires Her Majesty's consent which, as we have just heard, she has graciously given. The Measure sets out the only methods open to a bishop or archbishop for resignation and retirement in normal circumstances. It also consolidates, with some minor amendments, the relevant law concerning the resignation of a bishop because of his incapacity due either to physical or to mental disability.
§ Perhaps I should make clear that the procedure contained in the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963, concerning cases of misconduct, is unaffected. It should also be noted that an order in council will continue to be required before the resignation of an archbishop.
§ Your Lordships will not be surprised to hear that there has been considerably more enthusiasm for this Bishops (Retirement) Measure than there was for the luckless Appointment of Bishops Measure. Indeed, it was passed in all three Houses of the General Synod without a single vote against, the vote being 301 to nil.
§ There has, as your Lordships would expect, been the closest consultation throughout with the representatives of the Crown, with the Lord Chancellor's Department, and with the Home Office, and the Measure, as I now present it to your Lordships, has of course the support of them all and has been found expedient by the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament. Accordingly, I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Bishops (Retirement) Measure be presented to Her Majesty for Royal Assent.—[The Lord Bishop of Rochester.]
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.