Sitting of 29 October 1993

Preamble
The House met at half-past Nine o'clock
PRAYERS
[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]
PETITIONS

  Scarisbrick (Petrol Spillage)
  9.36 am
  Mr. Colin Pickthall: I beg to ask leave to present a petition that has been signed by 82 residents of the parish of Scarisbrick in my constituency. The petion is an attempt to draw the attention of the House to the blighting of the residents' homes and lives by a large petrol spillage in the parish more than a year ago. The petrol seeped into the drains and the water courses under their homes, presenting them with a threat to their health and safety as well as inflicting them with a permanent anxiety and rendering their houses valueless.
  The cost of remedying the matter could not be met by the local authorities concerned. The petitioners seek the support of the House against the lack of satisfactory remedies available to them, and the unsatisfactory action taken by the local authorities. The petition ends:
  Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House would consider our case with urgency and understanding to a satisfactory conclusion for the petitioners.
  To lie upon the Table.

London Transport
Mr. Nick Raynsford: I beg to ask leave to present a petition that has been signed by more than 5,000 residents of the Greater London area and of surrounding commuter areas, expressing anger and concern at the lack of investment in London Transport.
In particular, the petitioners highlight the proposals to close the Aldwych station and the threat to Mornington Crescent station, as well as the cuts in investment in London Underground and bus services. The petitioners, together with all other Londoners, feel betrayed that the promised investment in London Underground pledged by the Government immediately before the 1992 general election is now being cut. Following a £300 million cut in last year's autumn statement, a further cut of perhaps 10 per cent. is threatened in the coming Budget.
The cuts will be catastrophic and will delay long-overdue improvements in stations. For example, on, the Northern line the cuts will halt the replacement of outdated rolling stock and signalling systems and make it impossible for London Underground to complete essential repairs to track and surrounding walls, bridges and drains. That, in turn, makes the services slower, more vulnerable to interruption and less safe because the track can be blocked by debris from collapsing walls or crumbling embankments and drains.
That comes at a time when there is a desperate need to improve our public transport network in London to ensure a transfer from our over-congested roads to get London moving again. The petition ends:
Wherefore your petitioners pray that your honourable House takes steps to ensure that the investment projects planned to achieve the "decently modern metro" by 2004–2005 and to improve quality of bus services are not cut or deferred, and your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
To lie upon the Table.

Priests (Ordination of Women)
9.38 am
Madam Speaker: Before we commence today's business, it might be helpful to the House if I made a short statement.
In view of the business of the House order which provides that the Questions on both Measures are to be put at 2.30 pm, I propose to allow them to be debated together. The amendment to the first motion is not in order, but of course the arguments contained in the amendment may be deployed in the joint debate.
I am satisfied that all the necessary preliminary procedures relating to the Measures have been gone through and that today's motions are perfectly in order. Whether or not the Measures represent an appropriate way in which to make the proposed changes is a question of argument rather than a question of order for me.
I have been asked to consider whether the financial privileges of the House are being infringed by the financial provisions Measure. I have established that the payments that it is proposed to make out of the Church Commissioners' general fund do not require a money resolution of the House and that the Measure is perfectly in order in that respect.
Finally, an enormous number of hon. Members wish to speak and, alas, I am not in a position to place a 10-minute limit on speeches today. I therefore make a special plea for brevity.
Mr. Andrew Bowden: On a point of order, Madam Speaker. If the motions are accepted today, they will have a profound effect upon the Church of England. I am a communicant member of the Church and I am distressed that Members of the House who hold other religious beliefs or who are agnostics, atheists or feminists will be able to influence the future of my Church. I therefore ask you, Madam Speaker, to consider ruling that it would not be proper for those hon. Members to use their votes today.
Madam Speaker: I must tell the hon. Gentleman and the House that our proceedings are pursuant to an Act of Parliament and that all hon. Members are entitled to vote. May we now make progress?
9.40 am
The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Tony Newton): I hope that I need detain the House for only a moment. I have two messages.
First, 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 Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure, has consented to place her prerogative and interest, so far as it is concerned on behalf of the Crown and the Duchy of Lancaster, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Measure.
Secondly, I have it in command from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to acquaint the House that his royal highness, having been informed of the purport of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure, has consented to place his interest, so far as it is concerned on behalf of the Duchy of Cornwall, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes of the Measure.
9.41 am
Mr. Michael Alison (Second Church Estates Commissioner, representing the Church Commissioners): I beg to move,
That the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure, passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament.
The two Church of England Measures that I invite the House to approve are complementary—indeed, the first cannot be put into effect without the second, financial, Measure. I hope, therefore, that it will be for the convenience of the House if we discuss the two Measures in tandem, in accordance with what you, Madam Speaker, said. I remind the House of the second motion before us:
That the Ordination of Women (Financial Provisions) Measure, passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament.
The Measures are certainly among the most significant and, it must be said, the most controversial pieces of Church legislation ever to come before the House. Their significance goes far beyond their immediate provisions. They not only raise major questions of theology and Church unity and order but touch on issues of deep concern to very large numbers—probably millions—of people, ranging from regular Sunday churchgoers to those more loosely attached, whose links with the Church of England, if distant, are existent and real. I am grateful and glad that so many hon. Members, on behalf of their constituents, have recognised the importance of these matters by their attendance and by their desire to participate in the debate.
The process by which the Measures have reached the House cannot be said to have been either rushed or superficial. As long ago as 1975, the General Synod of the Church of England passed a motion to the effect that it considered that there were no fundamental objections to the ordination of women to the Anglican priesthood.
The legislation before us began its own journey through the Synod more than five years ago. Prior to its introduction, the justification for and shape of the legislation had been extensively considered by the House of Bishops and the Synod itself. In accordance with the General Synod's constitution, and before they could be considered for final approval by the Synod, the two Measures were referred to every diocese in the Church, and were discussed, I suspect, in every deanery and parish in the land. All but six of the 44 diocesan synods voted in their favour and they were finally approved last November by majorities of more than two thirds in each of the three houses—Bishops, Clergy and Laity—of the General Synod. They reach us, therefore, with a pedigree of timely consideration and immense support within the constituencies of the Church.
The process of careful consideration has continued since that time. The Ecclesiastical Committee—a Committee of this House—whose reports are before the House this morning, heard evidence on the Measures on several occasions and held a joint conference with our matching body in the General Synod, which is called the Legislative Committee. In a departure from past practice, we took evidence in the House from members of the General Synod who were opposed to the Measures as well as from those who supported them. Having deliberated

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carefully, the Ecclesiastical Committee has reported by a majority that the legislation and the motions before us are expedient.
Some hon. Members here today may, while applauding the careful consideration given to the legislation in the Synod, seek to argue that it is no business of this House to deliberate on matters that are so exclusively and intimately the concern of the Church of England. I suspect that the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) may address himself to that point during a speech that we look forward to hearing.
To take that approach, however, is not only to ignore the historic role of the Church of England as the national church but to fail to realise how large our Church of England continues to loom in society today. Far from being the organisation in terminal decline that many commentators eagerly seek to depict, the Church of England remains an organisation with a vigorous life whose influence reaches into all corners of the nation. The active membership of the Church is currently increasing in many areas.
Moreover, the Church of England retains a significance far beyond those—still numbering more than a million —who regularly and weekly attend its churches. It is still the Church to which most of us and our constituents go on the big occasions of life—to have our children baptised, to be married or, less willingly, to be buried. The Church of England still ministers to every community in the land. In many of our inner-city areas, Anglican clergy are often the only residential professional people. Some 20 per cent. of our schools are of Church of England foundation. More than 800,000 young people take part each week in the Church's youth activities. Its pedigree in our national heritage—culturally, linguistically, architecturally and artistically—is simply immeasurable. I remind the House in passing that all the Chancellors of the Exchequer from the Norman conquest to the reformation were bishops, or sometimes deans or archdeacons. It is for consideration whether those bishops, deacons and deans did a better job than more recent performers, by which I mean, of course, those performing over the past 500 or 600 years at least.
Moreover, millions more of our fellow citizens and constituents than the comparatively smaller number of those who regularly attend Anglican Church services definitely identify themselves with and value our Christian heritage in Britain. The latest figures taken from the ninth British social attitudes survey of 1992–93 show that 61 per cent. of the entire population identify with one or other of the main Christian denominations. A much smaller proportion—35 per cent.—register no religion. Therefore, we are considering millions of people who identify themselves with and participate in the Christian denominations in our country.
Many of that 61 per cent. are members of other non-Anglican Christian denominations. For those millions of people, the Church of England, with its formal state link, is a kind of valuable stalking horse by which they can bring pressure to bear on the powers that be to promote or to maintain Christian standards in education, complex moral and ethical issues, and so on. Therefore, it is to this House and its elected Members that they expect to write and get a response in that context. Few would know how to get in touch with an elected Synod member, for example, so it is entirely appropriate for the House to debate matters of concern to so many millions of our constituents, whether or not they be members of the Church of England. It is also
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right for the House to manifest its proper function on an un-whipped Friday by the presence of such large numbers of hon. Members to reflect on, respond to and echo the intense interest of our constituents.
I shall briefly consider the controversy that has surrounded the motion that springs from the varying views in the Christian Church on whether the tradition of an all-male priesthood can be properly modified and whether the Church has authority to make such a change. Right hon. and hon. Members will not expect me as a layman to give an exhaustive and expert account of theological matters. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] Since the arguments on both sides may well be referred to later, and in view of the response that that little tremor suggested, I shall include a bit of theology.
The case against the proposed legislation on theological and ecclesiological grounds falls in paragraphs 10 to 15 of the Ecclesiastical Committee report under three headings. First, it is argued that, in his incarnation as Christ, God manifested himself unequivocally as a male human being. At the Eucharist, the celebrant in his own person in called on to represent Christ and thus male priests only, it is argued, can properly and adequately do that. That argument is challenged by proponents of women priests on the ground that it is the humanity of Christ that is definitive and significant, not his maleness. To include women in the priesthood would indicate the inclusiveness of all humanity in the person of the celebrant.
I shall tentatively follow that little theology byway a little further. We all understand that when one of Her Majesty's ambassadors is serving Her Majesty in a foreign posting in, say, Washington, that ambassador, if he is male, can properly represent Her Majesty. He does not have to be a representation of Her Majesty or, in other words, a women who looks exactly like the Queen. He can be a full representative of Her Majesty as a male. If one argues that it has to be a precise representation, one should argue that not only should the priest be male, but that he should be a Jew as well. [Interruption.] One sees the hazards that arise the moment one brings in the byways of theology.
Mr. Patrick Cormack: Does my right hon. Friend accept that there are many people in the Catholic and Apostolic Church—Anglican, Roman Catholic and orthodox—who would consider that a gross trivialisation of their argument?
Mr. Alison: Certainly it is not an original analogy. It comes from one of the great doctors of the Church of England and I shall take that rebuke and pass on to him.
Mr. John Marshall: Does my right hon. Friend accept that a number of Christian Churches have had female vicars for a long time, that they have behaved satisfactorily and to the great distinction of those Churches, and that many of us cannot understand the theological nonsense that has kept the Church of England behind other Churches for so long?
Mr. Alison: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his intervention. I shall touch briefly on the extent to which other Churches have already trodden the path that today we are suggesting the Church of England should tread.
Those who lay the weight of the Church of England's tradition on deploying an all-male priesthood also argue that to admit women to that order of ministry would compromise its apostolic continuity. However, others see

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the Church of England as continually developing and do not accept that the apostolicity of the Church would be undermined by the ordination of women to the priesthood.
It is worth reminding the House that for the first 1,000 years of the history of the Christian Church it was normal for bishops and clergy to have wives—one wife only—and it was only after that period had passed that it became necessary for priests to be celibate. We do things in thousand-year tranches in the Christian Church and it may be that in the next 1,000 years we shall make another important change to the lot and scope of women. I do not believe that it represents a significant breach of the principle of continuity in which there is evolution over long periods of the Church's history.
The next main objection depends on the interpretation of certain passages in the Bible.
Mr. John Greenway: Does my right hon. Friend accept that the arguments that he and others have advanced against the ordination of women are absolutely crucial to a substantial number of people in the Church of England who want the Measure to be passed and form part of the pressure on hon. Members? However, will he assure the House that those who have reservations—as far as I can judge from conversations I have had with them, they will not give them up in any circumstances—will be properly catered for under any new arrangements if the House were to pass the Measure?
Mr. Alison: I hope to be able to reassure my hon. Friend when I briefly expound the content of the Measures, with the safeguards that are written into them.
The next main ground of objection depends on the interpretation of certain passages in the Bible suggesting that headship within the Church and more widely rests with men and not with women. The main texts in question are referred to and set out in paragraph 13 of our Ecclesiastical Committee's report. There has been much debate about the precise meaning of the Greek word Kephale, which is translated as "head" in the biblical text. Many who are strongly committed to the supremacy of scripture cannot find in the passages quoted any bar to the ordination of women as priests.
The third main ecclesiological argument is that the Church of England is part only of the one holy and apostolic church and does not have the authority to make the change proposed. Such a change could be made only by an ecumenical council of the whole Christian Church. This argument overlooks the effect of the reformation and the sad but none the less real divisions that continue within Christendom.
Article 20 of the our Church of England's 39 articles of religion, one of our foundation documents, states that
"the Church has authority in controversies of faith".
In spite of the considerable improvements in relations between the churches, an ecumenical council on this matter is not a realistic possibility at present.
The effect of unilateral action by the Church of England on its relations with other Christian denominations has been a constant concern throughout our debates. The ordination of women to the priesthood would undoubtedly represent a setback in the search for unity with the Roman Catholic and orthodox Churches. It would, however, not end the quest for unity with those Churches and would at
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the same time remove a barrier to unity with other Churches such as those from the Lutheran and reformed traditions.
Mr. John Selwyn Gummer: Will my right hon. Friend explain why, almost 10 years ago, the Church of England solemnly agreed with the orthodox Churches that no changes would be made affecting its association and relations without discussion and agreement, yet, in the long discussions, threw that promise to the winds at a time when the orthodox Church, especially in eastern Europe, looked to the Church of England for leadership? Is not that to put our own wishes ahead of the unity for which Jesus asked at the last supper? Why did we make that decision, and why did we not keep our word?
Mr. Alison: My right hon. Friend will understand as clearly as I do that the Church of England is subject to synodical government, which includes a representational and—dare one use the word without theological, undertones—democratic factor. No fixed or final undertaking—my right hon. Friend will, I think, understand this—can be given by archbishops or bishops in ecumenical or other discussions with other churches that must stand firmly, fixedly and eternally in the face of the movement of the seas of opinion and, above all, of voting changes in their own church that are likely to shift the sands a little on the basic discussion of ecumenical matters.
Mr. Gummer: Does my right hon. Friend have some sympathy with the leader of the Russian orthodox Church, who found it impossible to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury in formal circumstances and had to ask, "By what authority does he come if he is not prepared to accept the authority of the whole Church but insists upon a unilateral decision by a part of the Church, having given us his word?"
Mr. Alison: I do not think that I can properly respond on the relations of leaders of churches because I have not been privy to their discussions, but since the reformation there has been some division in the councils of Christendom and the Church of England was not extensively consulted by the Church of Rome on some of the fundamental doctrines—for example, the ascension and reception of the Blessed Virgin Mary bodily into heaven, a new doctrine promulgated without reference to the Church of England or its leaders. It is part of the divided framework of Christendom that churches develop their own positions and theological reflections and evolution in this area. We cannot continually be bound by decisions reached in other churches before we can go forward, otherwise no reformation would have occurred.
Mr. Peter Bottomley: The House will probably be able to hear some of the arguments of my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) later in the debate, but is it not a fact that the Roman Catholic Church does not recognise the orders of male priests in the Church of England? That does not prevent parishes—Roman Catholic, Anglican and free—from presenting Christianity jointly to people all over the country, and is not that the greater truth and greater cheerfulness?
Mr. Alison: I fully accept what my hon. Friend says. There is nothing significant from the point of view of the Roman Catholic Church in the possibility of women priests

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emerging in the Church of England, as the ministry of the male priesthood, in the view of the Roman Catholic Church, is null and void. No terrible sea change is implied in the relationship between the two churches if null is made nuller and void voider by the introduction of the feminine tense to these two words.
As well as considering our Church traditions, we should not overlook the fact that the Church of England is the mother Church of a worldwide Anglican communion of 70 million adherents. Within that communion, many provinces have already moved to ordain women as priests. There are now well over 1,000 women priests within the Anglican communion. While other provinces continue to adhere to the tradition of an all-male priesthood, the communion has already and clearly found ways of living with a variety of practices among its members on this issue.
Mr. David Harris: I visited Hong Kong with the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and last Sunday I took communion in the cathedral. It was administered by a women priest, and although I could not sometimes understand what she was saying because she was an American, I could not help noticing that there had been a significant increase in the congregation for the eight o'clock communion since I was there years earlier. I hope that that woman priest has helped to bring about that increase.
Mr. Alison: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for showing the extent to which communion is feasible and possible where women priests are ministering, certainly in the Anglican community.
The potentially divisive effect of the legislation within the Church of England has captured most attention within the Church and our own Ecclesiastical Committee.
The Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure—the main Measure—seeks to do two things. First, clause 1(1) makes it lawful for the General Synod to provide by canon for a woman to be ordained to the office of priest as long as she meets the other requirements of canon law for such ordination. Clause 1(2) makes it clear that the Measure does not open the way for women to become bishops. A further Measure requiring as elaborate a process of consideration as the present one would be necessary for that to happen.
Recognising the divided views in the Church on the issue, the remainder of the Measure provides an elaborate and comprehensive set of safeguards designed to ensure that those who, in conscience, cannot accept the ordination of women as priests are not asked to act against their conscience. Under canon law, a parish priest can already decide who may share in the administration of sacrament in his church and, if he wishes, he can exclude a woman from doing so.
Clause 3 enables a parochial church council to pass either or both of the resolutions set out in schedule 1. These are, first, under resolution A, that the parochial church council would not accept a woman to preside at or celebrate Holy Communion or pronounce the absolution in the parish—those acts that are specifically reserved to the ministry—and, secondly, under resolution B, that the council
"would not accept a woman as the incumbent or priest-in-charge of the benefice or as a team vicar for the benefice."
Both this and clause 4, which relates to cathedrals, are continuing provisions without limit of time—built-in, permanent parochial safeguards.
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Most attention has focused, however, on clause 2 of the Measure, which enables a bishop in office when the canon promulgated to make one or more of three declarations. As paragraph 2 of our Ecclesiastical Committee report explains, the first of those declarations would prevent a woman from being ordained as a priest within his diocese; the second would prevent a woman from being a parish priest or team vicar within his diocese; and the third would prevent a woman from being given any licence or permission to officiate as a priest within the diocese. By making all three declarations, a bishop could exclude women from being ordained or acting as priests in any capacity within his diocese.
A declaration made by a bishop under clause 2 could be withdrawn by him, but would otherwise continue in force until six months after the bishop's successor took office.
Mr. Tony Benn: Let us suppose that the House passes the Measure and that a woman is ordained. Let us suppose that she then goes to a diocese or a part of the country where the safeguards described by the right hon. Gentleman apply. What offence will that woman be committing, who will punish her with what authority, arid on what basis is that to be justified to the House?
Mr. Alison: The woman would not commit an offence by travelling to any particular part of the country; but, by definition, she could not officiate without being invited to acquire the title of a benefice, or to accept whatever post she has been invited to minister to. The initiative, therefore, would not lie with the woman; it would lie only with the inviting body—a hospital, a parish or some other corporate body within the diocese. No offence would arise in the woman's simply considering an opening or opportunity.
Mr. Benn: May I clarify this point? Holy Communion is given on a number of occasions. If, under the safeguards that the right hon. Gentleman has described, certain areas are to be no-go areas for women priests, what offence would be committed—and by whom—if a woman went into a no-go area and administered Holy Communion? What would be the penalty, and, if the Measure is passed, will Parliament today be endorsing such a penalty for a woman ordained into holy orders under an instruction arid agreement on the part of both Houses of Parliament?
Mr. Alison: The question is whether what the woman did was covert and unauthorised, or whether such an administration of Holy Communion was authorised and supported by the parish priest concerned. We are necessarily talking about a formal liturgical service in a church. The woman could not administer the sacrament in a parish church without the clergyman—the occupant of the benefice—authorising her to do so.
It is conceivable, I suppose, that a group might get together, break the lock of the church in the small hours and hold illicit, covert communion service without the knowledge or authority of the parish priest; but I do not think that that is what the right hon. Gentleman means. He is concerned with some formal breach of ecclesiastical jurisdiction or law. I do not see how that can happen in the context that we are considering: as I have pointed out, the absolute discretion as to who may administer the sacrament and absolution in a parish church remains with the parish priest concerned. He could invite a woman to administer the sacrament in his church—if she was duly

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ordained as a priest—if he and his parish had opted, as the option arises in these Measures, to accept women priests. If they had passed a resolution not to accept women priests, he would never invite her in the first place, and the contingency would not arise unless it was done in a covert and underhand way. I do not think that problems of ecclesiastical law and punishment arise in this contingency.
The provision restricting clause 2 to bishops in office when the canon comes into force was requested by the majority of the House of Bishops in order to maintain their unity and collegiality. Since then, it has become a focus of criticism by opponents of women's ordination, who argue that, because the clause does not extend to bishops appointed after the promulgation of the canon, it is likely to prevent priests who share their views from ever becoming bishops in future. Opponents of the Measure therefore argue that the clause should either be extended to apply indefinitely whenever a new bishop comes in, or be scrapped completely. Supporters of women priests point out that to extend the rights given by the clause to future bishops would, in effect, be to legislate for the permanent geographical division of the Church into go and no-go areas for women priests.
The grounds for the argument over clause 2—which occupied much of the time of the Ecclesiastical Committee —have, I am glad to say, substantially diminished, as has the likelihood of diocesan bishops making any of the declarations under the clause, following publication of the pastoral arrangements which the House of Bishops has indicated that it wishes to operate once the legislation is in force.
The arrangements set out in the two statements of the House of Bishops—which appear on pages 21 and 22 of our Ecclesiastical Committee report—commit the bishop to ensuring that suitable episcopal ministry is provided for those in favour and those opposed to the legislation, while preserving the position of the diocesan bishop. The arrangements are to be embodied in an Act of Synod, which the General Synod will consider at its next meeting on 9 to 12 November.
An Act of Synod—which is the modern-day equivalent of an Act of the convocations—has no legally binding effect, but is regarded by the Church as morally binding. As paragraph 26 of the Ecclesiastical Committee's report records, some members of the committee have pressed, and will no doubt press today, for the Act of Synod to be given legal force by being enshrined in another Measure. While I appreciate the sincerity of those who argue that point, I do not think that their argument can be sustained; nor did the majority of members of the Ecclesiastical Committee.
Pastoral arrangements are about matters of confidence and trust, not law. Flexibility is needed to adapt to the many different circumstances that will affect individual priests and parishes. Nor can there be any guarantee that the Measure—which will, in any event, take two years to enact—could be carried through all its stages in the Synod.
Hon. Members will be aware that a number of people in the Church feel that the arrangements intended by the House of Bishops already go too far in trying to accommodate those who are opposed to the present
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legislation. I am sure that the bishops are wise both in what they propose and in avoiding any attempt to enshrine their proposals in a further Measure.
Mr. Tim Renton: I very much agree with my right hon. Friend about these issues, and I admire the measured, reasonable and well-informed way in which he is presenting his arguments. However, although I have always strongly supported the ordination of women—I hope that it will happen soon, and I think that it will strengthen the Church of England when it does—I know that the point on which my right hon. Friend has touched worries a number of Anglican priests in my part of the world. The proposed Act of Synod is, in effect, designed to reassure opponents that their place within the Church of England is respected. As my right hon. Friend has pointed out, it has no legal force; its force is only moral and in-house. What guarantees can be given to such people that it will not be withdrawn later, in a different climate of opinion?
I agree with my right hon. Friend that it is not possible to legislate in perpetuity for what could be a perpetual division in the Church of England. However, if he can elaborate on that point, I will be able to reassure priests in Sussex with more certainty about an issue that is worrying them.
Mr. Alison: I shall do my best in a few seconds to reassure my right hon. Friend by reading out a short extract from the ecclesiastical bishops' report. As an old hand and as a parliamentarian, perhaps I can remind my right hon. Friend of some of the realities in that area. He will be familiar with the various Acts that we have passed.
Those Acts went through agonising Committee stages with the most minute discussion on the dots, crosses and t's of provisions about discrimination and anti-discrimination —anti-racial discrimination and anti-sex discrimination. A range of non-discriminatory Measures were introduced and, after agonising procedures, were put on the statute book. However, we must ask ourselves whether they have been fail-safe instruments for securing non-discrimination in race relations, non-discrimination in jobs available for West Indians or other minority immigrants in our community.
In spite of the splendid, detailed, agonisingly constructed statutory provisions that we have made, at the end of the day the small print, the cold legality, does not guarantee the moral impetus which is needed to eschew real discrimination. It depends on the good will, and the heart and mind, of those who live in the community.
If we attempt to turn the Act of Synod into a Measure, to begin with, it would have to go through a committee stage in the Synod, which would delay it by at least two years. The present form of the Act of Synod, as proposed, would be much modified, because immediately it would become a battle as it went through the committee stage and the small print and all the technical requirements were considered. What would emerge might be much less comprehensive and protective than what is already in the draft Act of Synod. Then it would go forth with less of the spirit of moral unanimity than might be the case. There would be no guarantee that it would secure the required objectives.
I think that the words that I shall now quote from our Committee will help to put the matter into perspective. Paragraph 40 reads:

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"The preservation of the unity of the Church of England following the introduction of women priests cannot be achieved by legislation alone. Nor could legislation ensure that there is no discrimination against the opponents of women priests in the matter of preferment within the Church. These are ultimately matters which will depend on the good will of members of the Church at all levels and on the making of arrangements within the Church that are seen to promote fairness to all and toleration of different viewpoints. Such arrangements have already been proposed in the two Manchester Statements."
As the House will have gathered, a number of provisions of the main Measure and the pastoral arrangements proposed by the House of Bishops are intended to provide continued room within the Church of England for the ordination of women to the priesthood. As I hope that my right hon. Friend will concede, the Church is trying, through the Act of Synod, to get to the heart of the necessary unanimity and good will spelt out in the Act of Synod. It is doing that in a compressive if necessarily broad-brush way, not with the kind of minute protection against litigious tendencies that is so much a feature of our legislation in the House and, to some extent, in the Synod.
The Measure is a broad-brush attempt to expand and explain the determination to give a breath of life to the skeleton of statutory provision that we are trying to introduce today to make the commitment to fairness and to allowing a hundred flowers to bloom and the two integrities to co-exist as a reality. That is the determination. That is the reason why the General Synod has wisely decided that it will go for an Act of Synod that can be introduced and passed rapidly in the General Synod and not go down the path of further detailed Measures.
I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker, for detaining the House for so long. I come now to the second Measure, the Ordination of Women (Financial Provisions) Measure. It recognises that, in spite of the attempts that we shall make to maintain unity and to include everybody if possible, there will be opponents who do not feel able to remain within the Church of England. The Measure is an attempted safety net to ensure that those who resign from service in the Church of England, by reason of their opposition to the ordination of women as priests, do not suffer financial hardship.
The Measure is discussed in detail on pages 35 to 37 of the report. It falls broadly into two parts. Clauses 1 to 4 and 9 provide a standard scheme of financial benefits to clergy and others who resign because of their opposition to the ordination of women priests during a period between six months before and 10 years after the promulgation of the implementing canon. That 10-year scope forward is not without interest, because it means that the clergy have a chance to find their feet, or not, in the new regime when we have women priests. It allows them 10 years to make up their mind whether they can stand the new arrangements or not, and apply for the financial benefits of having to resign.
Clause 5 gives a wide discretion to make payments both to those who are not entitled to benefit as a right from the standard scheme and by way of additional benefit to those who are so entitled. All benefits are to be administered by the Church of England Pensions Board with a right of appeal to a tribunal of five persons, constituted as provided by clause 10.
The Measures have been variously criticised as either mean or over-generous. In my view, the level of provision is fair and reasonable—indeed, it compares well with levels of provision in the secular field. The Church of England deserves great credit that, uniquely among these
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provinces of the Anglican communion who have ordained women as priests, it is making arrangements for those who do not feel able in conscience to remain in its service.
Some of those who have argued that the financial provisions are inadequate from the point of view of those who might receive them have also expressed concern that they are still too generous from the point of view of the Church's capacity to pay them. Depending on the timing of the resignation, the estimated cost of the provision could average £1 million per annum for each 100 resignations at current stipend levels. Illustrative figures on costs are given in the memorandum by the Church Commissioners, which is reproduced on pages 44 to 46 of the report.
As my colleagues will know, the Church of England, as with other institutions, is going through a period of financial hardship, and the costs will add to the burden of all the parishes that will ultimately have to bear them. The Measure was discussed in dioceses when the main Measure was referred to them. It received a 100 per cent. majority in the General Synod. In the House of Bishops, it received a majority of 96.98 per cent., in the House of Clergy a majority of 97 per cent. and in the House of Laity a majority of 95 per cent. The financial provisions Measures reached us with a virtually unanimous endorsement—more than many Measures that have reached us in the past.
Although there is still uncertainty over the number who will leave the Church of England as a result of the Measures, it now looks as though it will be substantially fewer than predicted in some of the initial estimates made in the immediate aftermath of last November's General Synod vote. There can, in my view, be no reasonable doubt either of the Church's capacity or of its will to live up to the commitments represented by the financial provisions Measure.
Miss Ann Widdecombe: Will my right hon. Friend comment, for the House's elucidation—he is giving us a thorough canter through the Measures—on whether the Measures cover serving missionaries abroad, serving chaplains to the armed services, serving chaplains to health authorities, and others who are not immediately in parishes?
Mr. Alison: I am happy to give my hon. Friend that reassurance. All the people in the categories that she has mentioned, whether they are lay members of such bodies or ordained members, will be eligible under clause 5 for the discretionary—
Miss Widdecombe: Ah!
Mr. Alison: —provision which is part of the package that we are now offering. It is being left to discretionary provision precisely because, as my hon. Friend showed by the impressive list of individual organisations against which the waves of the changes might beat in the future, there is a considerable number of bodies and individuals which it would almost certainly be impossible exhaustively to list individually in the body of the Measure. To that extent, we might lose more, and people might be more disadvantaged, if we were to spell out every conceivable individual group that might be disadvantaged.
In those circumstances, it is entirely reasonable to have a prescribed set of provisions for those who are easily identifiable—that is, those in full-time registered ecclesiastical employment—to set the yardstick for all the others whom we wish to include in that broad category, and

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of whom it has been said that we wish to include them. For their sake, we shall not list exhastively lest we miss out some. The discretion will be available widely to include all who can make any kind of case, with an appeal.
Mr. Frank Field: The right hon. Gentleman knows that he is on the most difficult part of his brief. He knows that it would have been possible to say that the compensation measure should apply to all Church of England clergymen—full stop. We did not need an exhaustive list because that heading would have covered all of them. Hon. Members are rightly worried that some may not be covered because they will have to argue their case for compensation rather than, like others, gaining it by right.
Mr. Alison: The hon. Gentleman speaks of compensation. We are not talking about a compensation package. We are talking about arrangements to help in conditions of financial hardship and difficulty. It is not a compensation measure in the sense that that might arise in secular contracts and conditions of employment precisely because there are so many people who do not have such contracts and conditions of employment in the Church of England. The hon. Gentleman's shorthand formula would definitely leave out some people who are likely to apply for compensation under clause 5—some of the people whom my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) mentioned in her off-the-cuff recitation of possible beneficiaries. We cannot be exhaustive in a prescribed schedule 1 list.
Mr. Roger Evans: Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is unsatisfactory, as a matter of legislative practice, to have a clause that gives a general discretion to make payments to office holders, employees or members of religious communities where such people need not, as a matter of definition, have any connection whatsoever with the Church of England? Purely secular office holders who are prepared to sign the declaration that they object to women priests as a matter of conscience are brought within that wide class. Why has it not been defined?
Mr. Alison: I attempted to explain that the definition would be difficult to contain—it would take up pages of schedules of the Measure and almost certainly leave somebody out. My hon. Friend overlooks the fact that there is, in the nature of the discretion, a capacity to be selective and discriminating with an appeals machinery and procedure. I cannot see how one can possibly behave more fairly than that, given the broad demonstration by the Church of England, through the Measure, that it is determined to help those who can show that they have real need and a reasonable title to such help.
Mr. John Ward: We are in uncharted waters. There have been many declarations of intent, which are welcome. Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that, given the broad estimate of those who may be covered by the Measures, the Church will have at its disposal the financial resources necessary, and still be able to carry out its work? Has there been an accountant's appraisal of the ability of the Church to meet its promises?
Mr. Alison: My hon. Friend will find in the paragraph of the Ecclesiastical Committee report that I have already quoted a broad-band computation of the likely cost to the Church of England, depending on whether 10, 50, 100 or more clergy resign. We have said that the costs will fall on the parishes and the man in the pew. As with all Church finances, the ultimate cost lies on the individual contributors in the parishes. They do not put a vast amount of money into the plate every Sunday. My hon. Friend may know that the average is £2.50 a week. The need will quickly arise for regular communicants of the Church of England to dip slightly deeper into their pockets. There is plenty of scope in the parishes for them to do so, given that small sum.
The question is almost, how long is a piece of string? If a substantial burden of payments arises in parishes, I believe that they will cough up—to put it crudely—because their heart is behind the Measures, as is shown by their voting. My hon. Friend will understand that there will be some savings, if large numbers resign, in existing stipends for fully-fledged clergy. That will give the budget a certain resilience because of the fall away of some of the sums involved.
Mr. Andrew Rowe: Given what my right hon. Friend said about the time perspectives within which changes come about in the Church of England, he may be pleased to learn—if he does not already know—that the present Measures for looking after clergy compare favourably with the Measures made for those affected by the dissolution of the monasteries. Does he agree that we must both hope and expect that, within the 10-year period, large numbers of those who are present find it impossible to accept the principle of women priests will find that many of their fears and anxieties are not as great as they expected, and that they will come round, as many people have already, to the Measure?
Mr. Alison: I am grateful for that helpful, prophetic and constructive intervention.
I shall draw together the threads on the compensation provision. I shall listen with great concern and interest to what the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) says on the issue and to what all other colleagues say in their speeches. I shall hope to try to reassure them with a few further points at the end of the debate. I remind colleagues of the enormous majorities in the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy and the House of Laity in favour of the Measure. All those most intimately affected by the provisions and financial terms that we are discussing—those in the House of Clergy—voted 97 per cent. in favour. That means that they felt that those affected will be adequately provided for by the spirit and letter of the financial provisions Measure.
Throughout the debate in the Church of England on the Measures there has been clear concern to maintain the unity of the Church of England. That concern was shared by the members of the Ecclesiastical Committee. Those opposed to the ordination of women for priesthood naturally focused on the safeguards afforded to those against the Measure. As I have demonstrated, the safeguards provided in the Measure are, when added to the provisions of the existing law, extensive. When the pastoral arrangements proposed by the House of Bishops are taken into account, the protective provisions are formidable. No member of the Church in the worldwide

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Anglican Community has gone to such lengths to give those opposed to the decision a continuing place in the Church.
I pay tribute to the lead that the Archibishops of Canterbury and of York and other diocesan bishops have given in the matter. No doubt much will be made in the debate of the divisive effect of the legislation on the Church of England. I ask the House to remember how much more divisive would be a failure to pass the legislation against the wishes of so clear a majority in the Church. I urge the House to accept the considered conclusion of the majority of the Ecclesiastical Committee —a Committee of the House—that the Measures are expedient and to demonstrate that by voting for them at the end of the debate.
Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Janet Fookes): Before I call the next Member to speak, may I reinforce the plea that was made by Madam Speaker before she left the Chair this morning? There are many, many Members who wish to speak. Many will be disappointed if considerable self-restraint is not exercised.
10.39 am
Mr. Frank Field: Many are called; few are chosen. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for calling me. I shall be brief, not just because the Speaker has asked us to be brief to maximise the number of people who can participate in the debate, but because the Estates Commissioner has given such a good and comprehensive introduction to the measure.
We have already been reminded that there are no theological objections to the women priests Measure. Indeed, the Synod of the Church of England decided many decades ago that it had no such objections, though it would be in order for any hon. Member who wishes to tease the House today to try to put forward an argument to reject that measure on theological grounds. I do not do so. I shall speak briefly in support of the main Measure and against the compensation Measure.
Most of the objections to the women's ordination Measure are not on theological grounds, but on grounds of order. Has the Church of England the authority to make the change? People who object to the Measure hold that view passionately and I respect them for it. I do not agree with them. For we are not only an established Church—hence the debate today and the freedom of anyone who catches the Speaker's eye to participate in the debgate—but a catholic and reformed Church. It seems strange that people claim that a Church that has taken unilateral decisions to reform itself does not have the power to make further changes.
It is possible to argue that the changes that we are making today are of a different magnitude from those made at the reformation. Those made at the reformation were about whether clergy could marry, whether communion should be in two kinds and the meaning of transubstantiation. Whereas today we might think those issues trivial, in those days people were prepared to go to the stake for their beliefs. I wonder how many people would propose or oppose the Measure if the outcome might be the stake and the fire today—but that, fortunately, is not the test.
It seems to me that it is in the power of a catholic but reformed Church—a Church that has declared UDI and
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banished the Pope's jurisdiction from this realm—to make the change that we are considering, and I hope that the House will agree to the change.
Under the Church of England Assembly Powers Act 1919, the Ecclesiastical Committee—and, I would therefore suggest, the House—has a duty, not to judge the broad sweep of a Measure, but to judge whether the Measure is expedient or not expedient when considering the rights and liberties of Her Majesty's subjects. Therefore, it was appropriate that most of the time in the Ecclesiastical Committee was spent, within those terms of reference, considering how that Measure will affect some of Her Majesty's subjects, especially those who disagree with the Measure.
Not so long ago, those who disagree with the Measure were in the majority. They are not people with different views who joined the Church; they are people who, at one time, found themselves in the majority, and who now find themselves in the minority. The Ecclesiastical Committee, therefore, quite rightly, spent most of its time considering how that group should be protected. The Estates Commissioner has reminded us that the result of that has not been merely the passing of two statements from the House of Bishops meeting in Manchester, but the promise —not yet the fulfilment—of an Act of Synod. That Act of Synod was not offered; the information that Synod could pass such a measure had to be extracted from Synod witnesses and it was almost like getting blood out of a stone.
The starting point for enshrining the rights of the minority did not, therefore, kick off in the best posssible terms. I hope that the House will consider carefully what further measures may be necessary at some later date to protect the rights of the minority who disagree with the Measure.
Against that disappointment of the Synod's not coming forward gracefully and offering that safeguard, however, we have to set the behaviour of the House of Bishops. Two unanimous statements were made, the second strengthening the first, about how rights of that minority can be protected. The House of Bishops promised to support unanimously the idea of an Act of Synod when Synod has its next meeting. There has also been a clutch of appointments of suffragen bishops, and the majority of those appointments—those that were announced last week—have been of people who either oppose the Measure or have grave doubts about it. It therefore appears that, just as no Act of Parliament or Act of Synod can, by itself, guarantee the right of a minority if the majority wishes to persecute that minority, the House of Bishops and individual bishops have done things that are encouraging. I congratulate them on the lead that they have given.
It is a pity that the opponents on both sides have more recently made some wild statements about what they intend to do. I hope that when Synod considers the measure it will not be swayed by those extremist views, from whatever wing of the Church those views come.
The task that I set myself—to support the Measure—is nearly done, but I must draw the House's attention to the compensation Measure, in which we should take a careful interest. The Measure gives a statutory right to some and a discretionary right to others. It also has a formula by which compensation will be computed. Although we are not supposed to refer to it as compensation, it is a convenient shorthand which we all understand, so I shall continue to use it. The formula works against younger

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priests. Some of them who have been trained and are married are doubtful about the Measure and will not be compensated as the formula currently stands, because it does not take into account the years that they have spent training as ordinands, but only those that they have spent in post as deacons or priests. For that reason, and the fact that the Measure is vague with regard to a large number of other people who may wish not to continue as Anglican priests after the Measure is passed, I hope that the House, although it should pass the first Measure, will reject the second. If there is support for my view, I shall divide the House on that second Measure.
Mr. Paul Channon: What would happen if the second Measure were defeated? What would be the compensation situation?
Mr. Field: It would concentrate the mind wonderfully, because the second Measure has to be passed for the first Measure to come into operation. We would get another order, meeting our points, so that the substantive motion would come into effect.
The Church may have some financial difficulties in meeting the cost of the compensation package, but, when Church Commissioners have lost between £3 million and £8 million by speculating on the American property market, we should not worry about whether there will be sufficient money to fund the form of compensation that we think desirable.
Mr. Michael Stern: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving way. The Church does not have a power of taxation; to place an indefinite financial burden on it, as he suggests, and lightly to put on one side the fact it might not be able to meet it, is a recipe for potential chaos within the Church.
Mr. Field: Most people who are going to leave are covered and will gain compensation, or whatever phrase we should be using. The minority will not be covered. It is not for the House to say that, because the Church has got itself into such a financial mess by speculating on the American property market, we should deny compensation to all those people who decide that they cannot continue to act as Church of England clergymen after the Measure is passed.
Mr. Benn: I want to be absolutely clear about what my hon. Friend is saying. If his vote succeeds today, it would stop the ordination of women, unless the Church came back with something else. So, despite what he said earlier, the motion is designed to prevent the ordination of women on the basis proposed by the Estates Commissioner, and the House should know that.
Mr. Field: The right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) may well read it that way. The alternative way to read it is that the will of the House will be that the main Measure should go forward, but that before it could be triggered into action, there would have to be a compensation scheme that we believed to be adequate. My action can be read both ways. I hope that the House will note that that is the way that I read it, rather than listen to someone else who wishes to shine a light into my soul and to decide what I am about. I do not think that that sort of behaviour is particularly helpful.
Mr. Nigel Spearing: I think that many of us understand my hon. Friend's motives over the compensation scheme. As I understand it, however, the discretionary part of the order applies to lay persons. Am I right in thinking that the statutory part, to which he referred, refers to the ordinands? Irrespective of that, if a subsequent adjustment dealt with the anomaly of the young priests, would that satisfy him?
Mr. Field: No, because other groups of priests are not covered. Although I want the young priests to be covered by the Measure, there will also be others. The hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern), who intervened before I gave way to the right hon. Member for—[HON. MEMBERS: "Chesterfield."] Yes, I wonder why my mind went blank. The intervention of the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West was to the effect that we should leave the rest of those who disagree to discretion. When the Estates Commissioner was speaking, I said that the Measure is the equivalent to some sort of social fund procedure for some priests but not for the majority. All of us know about our constituents' experiences with the social fund, and the advantage of that fund is that it has a budget. After the Church Commissioners' gambling in the property market we are not sure what the budget will be to pay for any of the Church's actions, let alone the compensation scheme.
Let us be quite clear. I strongly support the Measure and am pleased that the Church has moved to protect the minority who disagree. At first, it was reluctant but now it is less so. We know perfectly well that the Church wants the Measure. If the compensation scheme is defeated, an order will be tabled in the new Session of Parliament to establish a new compensation scheme.
Mr. Ward rose—
Mr. Field: I shall not give way, because I want to conclude with a few brief comments, as I know that many other hon. Members wish to catch your eye, Madam Deputy Speaker.
The Measure is a dog's dinner. The way in which the Synod produces legislation allows Measures to be ambushed by one group and thereby changed. There does not seem to be any overall responsibility for a Measure. We understand that the next Synod may set up a commission to consider the relationships between Church and State. It has every right to do so, although whether this place will take much notice of its report is another matter.
I hope that the Synod will also consider its own house and the means by which it puts together major legislation, because this House only has the power to accept, not to amend or reject, such legislation. Most people who are fervently in favour of the Measure do not think that the details are as satisfactory as they could be.
Finally, on the Church's leadership on the issue, the Archbishop of Canterbury, showing considerable confidence in his post, asked the Archbishop of York to take the lead and he did so with tremendous skill. The fact that we have not had more difficulties with the Measure is a great tribute to him.
10.54 am
Mr. John Selwyn Gummer: I had the immense privilege to be born into a vicarage and to be brought up in the Church of England right from the beginning. However, my father was a convert to the Church of England, having been a Baptist minister.

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Therefore, although I was brought up in an evangelical atmosphere, because my father had become an Anglican, I saw clearly that other aspect of the Church of England —its catholicity—as well as its reformed nature.
My father had chosen to become an Anglican to join the Church and to cease to be a member of a sect. I do not use that word in any offensive way but in the technical sense and I hope that no one will object to that. A sect is a group of people who surround a particular doctrine in which they passionately believe. They see themselves as the group of witnesses for that doctrine. It was because he saw the Church of England as the Church—not in its entirety but as part of the Catholic Church—that he joined it. I am sure that the House will understand that my upbringing was therefore in one sense very typically Anglican because I could not miss either of the two great streams of thought which have informed the Church of England down the ages.
I therefore must oppose the Measure for a fundamental reason which concerns authority rather than the ordination of women. I am entirely agnostic about their ordination —I do not know whether women can be ordained or not, but I know that the Church of England cannot make that decision unilaterally. I hope to be able to explain why I think that that is true. The issue is very clear. I am sure that the House will understand that many people like me will be excluded from the Church of England as a result of the Measure and so I am pleased to have the opportunity to explain why.
When a priest is ordained, in the ordination service of the Church of England, he is ordained as a priest in the Church of God, not as an Anglican priest. I noticed that the concept of a priest in the Church of England emerged for the first time in the document before us today. The Church of England is making a change and the Church Estates Commissioner noted that in his excellent introductory speech. I think that he made a slip by referring to a priest of the Church of England. There is no such thing.
At the reformation, the Church of England sought to continue the essential elements of catholicity so that everyone could be comprehended within the Church. There was no division between the pre-reformation and post-reformation orders, which is why the Church Estates Commissioner could make that pleasant allusion to the fact that some bishops were Chancellors of the Exchequer. It is perfectly right that we understand that continuity. The Church of England went to great trouble to ensure the continuity of orders. Some people in the Roman Catholic Church may not believe that, but that is up to them. The Anglican teaching has always been that there was continuity, which means that if one is ordained a priest in the Church of England, it is the same priesthood as that held by orthodox or Roman Catholic priests.
There were changes at the time of the reformation, but those were of a different kind, as the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) should realise. They were fundamentally different. At the reformation, the Church of England sought to return to what had been before, and to what they thought had been changed in the meantime—that was the reform.
The Measure is not expedient because it does not meet either of the qualities of the Church of England, reformed or Catholic. If one is Catholic one says that no doctrine may be taught that is not clearly taught from a biblical basis, and no doctrine may be taught that has not been believed down the ages by the Church. We in the Church
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of England have always applied the Vincentian canon, which said that orthodoxy of belief was measured by "Quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus"—that which has always, by everyone and everywhere been believed. The difficulty with the ordination of women Is that it has been believed nowhere by anyone at any time until now. Therefore, it is difficult to say that it is part of the tradition of the Church.
The reformers argued that their reform was Catholic by saying that everything that they were doing was clearly part of the Church's tradition—they had clearly had married priests, it had clearly been possible to interpret what happened at the eucharist in a different way from that which had been the way, it had been possible to claim that one was a Catholic and not in communion with the See of Rome. They may have been right or wrong, but that was the basis of their argument. That is not the basis of the argument being presented to the House.
One does not have to hold this argument; all non-conformists do not hold it, which is perfectly' reasonable. However, one cannot change the argument without changing the nature of the Church of England fundamentally. It is now being demonstrated that the Church of England has said, for the first time in history, that it can change unilaterally the doctrine of the universal Church, and do that which has never been done before, not on the basis of the whole Church, but on the particular basis of a majority in the General Synod. That is the difference which we must address. That difference is a matter of fact and is driving a significant minority out of the Church of England. I think that the hon. Member for Birkenhead will agree with me when I say that many feel as I do and are placed in a fundamental difficulty over what is being proposed.
The Church of England says that by a two thirds majority of the General Synod it can change what has always been taught everywhere and by everybody. I warn the House that it will not be the only step in the process. That change is followed by a series of Measures which will be passed and presented to the House. The Church of England will move further and further away from the orthodox position. We must not think that the ordination of women is the last word.
I do not feel strongly about the ordination of women in itself. It is not an issue on which I cannot imagine the whole Church changing its mind. Jesus gave clear rights to the Church to bind on earth that which would be bound in heaven and to loose on earth that which would be loosed in heaven. I understand that the Church as a whole might make such a decision. However, I warn the House that we are participating in an action in which the Church of England has arrogated to itself a power, hitherto unknown in the Church of England or any other part of the Catholic Church—that a province can make unilateral decisions that run contrary to the long, historic teaching of the Church, and do so by a majority, albeit of two thirds.
There is a problem. It is all very well for those who always want to bring the issue down to political matters, as some people do. It is not a political issue; we are not talking about women's rights. Those of us who worked for a long time for a woman know a bit about women's rights. Those of us who read the memoirs of such women know a bit about women's rights, too. I do not accept the view that we cannot have a serious discussion in the House on the theological issue involved. We would have had such a debate had the Church of England decided by a two-thirds

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majority to take the virgin birth from the creed. No one in the House should think that such a change will not soon be on the list of things to come.
The issue involves how decisions are taken in the Church. We must face the reality that many will be forced out of the Church because of the change. The Church of England has made an immensely arrogant claim which has been beautifully, delicately and non-arrogantly presented by the Church Estates Commissioner. The Church of England is saying that, despite the fact that the rest of the Church which has priests outside the Anglican communion, all those who understand the priesthood in the way in which the Church of England understands it and every previous part of the Church of England has always believed it to be wrong, we can now, by a two thirds majority, put it right. That is devastating arrogance. I find it hard to accept that the Archbishop of York can say that a hundred of his predecessors were wrong and he is right. I could accept it were it not about a subject on which the Church had always been unanimous.
I should explain why the issue is important. I know that my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) feels strongly about it. I voted in favour of women deacons because they have existed in the past and the Church accepted that. Therefore, it is perfectly right to say that a part of the Church—the Church of England—can make the decision to reinstate that which the Church has had. A reformed Church can properly take such action. The question is whether a reformed Church can decide to make a necessary part of being an Anglican the willingness to believe that the Church of England can ordain women—a fundamental problem for a reformed Church.
The reformed Church of England said that it would have no doctrines of its own, but would teach only what was necessary to salvation. It said that it would not add to that central body of doctrine. If one had, until recently, asked an Anglican to state the Anglican doctrines he could properly say, "We have none of our own, but teach only the doctrines of the Catholic Church as expressed in the three creeds and we have only the orders of the Catholic Church —bishops, priests and deacons. We have nothing of our own and, in a sense, we are the stalking horse for future unity. We are here to bring people together; we are the bridge Church because we demand of nobody anything in addition to that demanded down the ages." Now, an Anglican will be unable to say that because he will also have to say, "In addition, we are expected to accept the ministries of women priests who are ordained not on the authority of the whole of the Catholic Church, but on the authority of the General Synod of the Church of England." That is the fundamental gravamen of the problem.
It is argued that one will be able to be an Anglican because one will not have to accept the ordination of women and will be able to live in a specific community linked to a bishop who takes a different view. I cannot imagine a less proper way of living the Christian life or a more sexist concept. If I were supposed to go past three or four Anglican churches in order to find one that did not have women priests, I would be saying something both to myself and my children that I should find intolerable. I would be saying that I belonged to a Church, but was in communion with only one third of it. That seems to be an intolerable way of belonging to the Catholic Church.
Mr. Peter Bottomley: I think that my right hon. Friend's argument is receiving a sympathetic hearing across the House because he is concentrating on specific issues, not taking them all together. Does he agree that the only part of the argument that might be described as unfair involves the two thirds majority in the Synod? Before 1919 the House, without the help of the Synod, would have been able to pass the legislation. The question is whether the habit of not ordaining women has been such an historic negative that it should rightly be described as a doctrine. To describe the two thirds majority vote of the Synod as rather unusual is to miss the point that the House allowed the Synod to have such a role in this Measure.
Mr. Gummer: I should not like to say anything about the Synod that would disturb my hon. Friend. I agree that that is how such decisions are now made. However, I disagree with him about the habit. The saints and fathers of the Church specifically and without doubt state that the mind of the Church is that women cannot be ordained. I shall not argue that case because it is not the one that I am putting to the House, nor the view that I hold.
Secondly, I am putting to the House the fundamental case that the decision changes the nature of the Church of England in a way which means that many faithful Anglicans cannot remain Anglicans. It is right for the House to understand that before it votes, although I accept that that will not change the result. I am grateful to hon. Members for their kindness in listening to me because I know that my argument is unpopular. But the House is the place to put minority views as plainly as possible when such decisions have to be made.
If the Church of England is changed in this way it will cease to be the comprehensive Church that it once was. The glory of the Church of England was that I could kneel at the altar as an Anglo-Catholic next to an extreme evangelical for whom, to quote Lord Boyle's words about my right hon. Friend, who introduced the motion,
"The word Protestant is a trumpet call."
That quote covers many people in the Church of England but we knelt at the same altars—or holy tables, I had better be careful—and received the same sacraments from a priest whose validity we all accept.
The nature of the Church of England brought together that wide range of views and insights into God. It did so by insisting on only two things—the doctrines of the creeds and the orders of the Catholic Church. Once such orders are unilaterally changed, the range of people in the pews will be much more restricted.
Thirdly, it denies the whole basis of the Elizabethan settlement, which sought to create a Church of the nation in which everybody, except those who were at the extreme ends, could worship together. It did not succeed and perhaps it was wrong, but that was what it attempted, and that is what has made the Church of England so different. There has now been a denial of that attempt because a section of the population who could once be members of the Church of England now cannot be.
Fourthly, the Church of England had a real role in unity. I admired the speech by my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) but on that issue he spoke rather oddly. It is not that anyone who argues my view says that somehow or other the Roman Church or the Orthodox Church has a veto on these matters because, of course, that is not so. It is that many of us feel that the Church of

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England's vocation was to recover that unity for which our Lord prayed at his last supper, that we should be one that the world might believe. That is what he asked for.
Therefore, for some of us unity is the most fundamental part of our vocation, and the Church of England seemed to us over many generations as the one Church that had begun to show how to hold together the insights of Catholic and Protestant, although we use the word reformed. It was a beacon of light in a world in which the Church shows the disaster and disgrace of division.
Mr. Rowe: Will my right hon. Friend give way?
Mr. Gummer: I should like to finish this point and then I shall give way.
The Church should have sought unity first and from that unity sought the ordination of women, which would have been a proper thing to do. I do not mind the Church of England using the phrase from the Roman Church "in pectore", kept in its heart, meaning that it wished to ordain women but would seek unity first and try to convince the whole Church. Instead, it has gone for access religion. It takes the waiting out of wanting because it wants so much that it does not want to wait. That is the fundamental issue for many of us. We longed for the unity of which we thought the Church of England could be the harbinger, but that is no longer possible.
Mr. John Marshall: Does my right hon. Friend accept that unity can mean unity between the Church of England and the free churches and that the free churches are happy to have women priests? Does he also accept that the only act of Christian unity has been the creation of the United Reformed Church in which women are allowed to be vicars?
Mr. Gummer: I shall be careful in replying to my hon. Friend because I do not want to be rude. He is not speaking about priests, because the United Reformed Church does not claim to have priests: it claims to have ministers. It does not believe in the priesthood in the sense of the Apostolic priesthood that is taught and held in the Church of England. My hon. Friend's point is on a different issue. Any body such as the United Reformed Church or the Methodist Church can decide to have its own ministry and that is perfectly proper. My sister-in-law is a Methodist minister and I have no problem about that because that is the basis of Methodism, which does not claim to have the priesthood.
The issue is that the Church of England claimed to have the priesthood in the Apostolic tradition. Some Anglicans do not hold that view, but they accept it as the price of unity that many reformed Anglicans have accepted down the ages. That price is now being thrown away.
Mr. Rowe: Some of us are having difficulty with some parts of my hon. Friend's otherwise brilliant and lucid argument. I do not understand how he thinks that it is essential for the Church of England to wait until churches that have unilaterally added to the body of belief without consulting any other parts of the communion agree with it.
Mr. Gummer: There are two reasons. First, Christian disunity is the greatest disgrace to the Christian gospel, and we should think carefully before adding to that disunity. Secondly, whatever my hon. Friend's view of the Roman Church, he does not need to hold the same view of the Orthodox Church which has added nothing in these areas
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to the corpus of catholic faith. The Orthodox Church is the one which most needs the Church of England at this moment because it is trying to rediscover in Russia and elsewhere how to be a Church after being submerged by the communist authorities for so long. It looks and reaches to us.
In a sense, the biggest and most damaging comment about unity that I have ever heard was from the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church who felt that he had to say, "What authority does the Archbishop of Canterbury have now that he has given up the authority of the historic catholic church?" I shall end by concentrating on that.
The Church cannot teach the gospel unless it can point to its authority for doing so. It cannot teach the gospel unless it is clearly part of that body against which Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail. It cannot teach unless it can say, "Yes, we bind on earth what is bound in heaven, and we loose on earth what is loosed in heaven." That is the gospel authority given to the Church, and any doubt about our being part of that Church removes our ability to preach the gospel to the people of England, and that is what the Church of England is supposed to do. It was the way in which in the form closest to the people of England the gospel could best be preached.
During recent months and years, it has become impossible for a significant number of Anglicans to be members of the Church of England, because it has denied the basis of its authority. It no longer upholds the principles of reform—because it has insisted upon a doctrine that has no biblical foundation and has never been taught in the Church—and it has denied its catholicity because it has unilaterally decided that it can change its orders.
What does the Church of England intend to do to those who feel that they can no longer be members? I want to underline what was said by the hon. Member for Birkenhead. Young men who have trained for the priesthood, but who do not fit into the prescribed number of years—that is, they have been priests for fewer than five years—have no certainty of help for themselves or their families as they contemplate that terrible possibility for them—that the vocation in the Church that they thought they had is to be removed.
What about a school chaplain who is not directly employed by the Church? I think in particular of one man, an excellent school chaplain, who finds it impossible to remain an Anglican. He cannot continue in his job because that position is open only to Anglicans. He will lose his job because of his faith, yet he is not open—to use shorthand —to compensation, only to discretion. Therefore, I ask the Second Church Estates Commissioner, my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby, for a simple assertion. I want him to state, absolutely clearly, that anyone, whether or not he has been employed in a parish, no matter how long he has been in orders, and who in every other way fits the statutory requirements, will receive compensation—not as of right, because that is not possible under the law, but as though he had the right.
If my right hon. Friend can tell me that all such people will get the compensation that they would have received had they been beneficed clergymen of the Church of England, there can be no problem with what the hon. Member for Birkenhead said. However, if my right hon. Friend cannot tell me that, that is very worrying. All these matters have been the subject of enormous discussion within the Church of England but, so far, it has refused to make that very simple assertion.

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I am very sad that the issue of authority should have arisen in this House on the subject of the ordination of women. It would be easier for the House to consider the nature of authority and the nature of the Church of England were the arguments not clouded by the perfectly proper desire to ensure that women are not excluded from an area from which many feel, for all sorts of reasons, they should not be excluded.
However, that does not mean that those of us for whom this is a matter of fundamental belief should not warn the House of one simple fact, which is that already in training in other denominations are significant numbers of Anglican priests who were formerly serving in the Church of England, but who now look to serve in other Churches. Significant numbers more have already said that they will have to leave the Church when promulgation takes place. Already, many lay people are in the same position.
Nevertheless, in a sense all that is much less important than what happens to those of us who want to bring up our children as Christians. We feel strongly that we cannot do so in a Church that says to them, "You are in communion with these people, but not with those people." One cannot be a partial Anglican. One cannot be a bit of a bit of a Church which itself, at best, is a bit of the Catholic Church.
We must take our Christian vocation seriously. For that reason, many of us have no choice but to say that when the Measure is passed we will be excluded from the Church of England and a great part of its way of presenting the gospel to England will be damaged. At the centre of the Church of England's appeal is the fact that it is comprehensive, that it is Catholic and that it is reformed. In the future, it will never again be able to claim to be Catholic.
11.25 am
Mr. Tony Benn: The speech that we have just heard from the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) must have been made many hundreds of times over many hundreds of years, for example, against the admission of Catholics into Parliament, against the admission of Jews into Parliament —[Interruption.] Of course it has.
The right hon. Gentleman failed to recognise that conscience is not the exclusive property of men. Many women moved to service in the Church have waited most patiently, not for five years but for 70 or more. The right hon. Gentleman said that his father was a Baptist minister who became an Anglican. My mother, an Anglican, was a member of the League of Church Militant in 1920. It was the predecessor of the movement for the ordination for women. Archbishop Randall Davidson, the Archbishop of Canterbury, summoned her to Lambeth Palace in 1925 —the year I was born—and rebuked her for advocating the ordination of women.
During the last world war, the Bishop of Chekiang ordained Miss Lee Timoi to give Holy Communion in that province of China. At the end of the war, the Church of England said to the bishop, "If you do not remove her orders to prevent her from giving Holy Communion we will stop giving money to the Church of China."
We are discussing human matters because matters of faith are deeply entrenched in the human soul. I had more happiness from seeing the young women outside Church House embracing each other when the news of the vote in
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the Synod came through than I have had from many of the decisions taken by this House over many years. Women have waited patiently for ordination. I have met—as I am sure others have—young women training for ordination, yet without any knowledge of when they would ever be ordained in the Church of England.
The arguments used by the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal—who, dare I say, has no theological qualifications—to persuade Parliament to turn down the Measure were absolutely invalid. As the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the right hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) said, the Anglican communion worldwide has already accepted the ordination of women. Bishop Harris —a woman—is an Episcopalian Bishop in America and she may come to the next Lambeth conference. Is that a breach of the unity on which we are so often lectured? A year or two ago, I met an American woman who had been ordained into the Episcopalian Church and she gave Communion in this country. That is one reason why I ask what offence would be committed. When she gave Communion, an Anglican vicar approached the Communion table and bit her on the thumb when she administered the sacrament to him.
We must recognise that at the heart of this debate, however it may be covered up in theological terms, is prejudice against women and the attitude that they are not numan beings. The right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal says that the great thing about the Church of England is that it is comprehensive. What is the price of being comprehensive if the Church will not give women the opportunity to serve it through ordination?
As I have said, matters of faith are deeply felt. I have a great respect for people of all faiths. So few people believe in anything today that when we meet people of conviction, of any sort, we must respect them. The hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) has, I believe, left the Church of England. Of course, it is a fact that in America many Roman Catholics joined the Episcopalian Church when it ordained women. The hon. Lady must not rule out the possibility that, as a result of the ordination of women, Roman Catholic women will join the Church of England so that they, too, can be ordained.
I remind the House that in the Roman Catholic Church there is a movement called the League of St. Joan—rather like the League of Church Militant. I think it not improbable that when the present Pope dies—God rest his soul—there might be appointed a Pope who recognises that the strength of the Roman Catholic Church worldwide depends upon the ordination of women. I am not making any theological argument, because I do not pretend to believe in anything more than the priesthood of all believers. I have never believed in bishops, any more than I believe in regional organisers. All organisations in the world begin with a burning faith and end up with a bureaucracy more interested in burning and expelling people than in the faith that brought them into being. I will not go into that in any greater detail.
Should Parliament decide this matter? Of course, in law it must, because the Church of England is a nationalised Church. It is our oldest nationalised industry. The right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal said that Henry VIII nationalised it so that it could be a Church of the people. In fact, he nationalised it because he had a row with the Pope, who was imposing too much taxation on Britain. The king wanted the tax instead of the Pope. It was what one might call a value added tax argument in theological terms.

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Do not let us be told that it was because, in the Elizabethan settlement, the king suddenly was moved to provide spiritual comfort. There is not a word of truth in that.
The Act of Uniformity has been very brutal in its implications. A Rev. William Benn—I do not know whether he was an ancestor, but I hope to God that he was —was ejected from his living in Dorchester in 1662 under the great ejectment because he would not accept the provisions of the Act of Uniformity. Everyone knows that that the Church has been most intolerant as a nationalised Church.
I mentioned earlier that at one time, Catholics and Jews could not sit in the House. Everyone must know the story of Charles Bradlaugh who was elected to represent Northampton. He said, "I cannot take the oath because I am a Humanist." The House said, "Sling him out." There was another election and he was returned again, and the same thing happened. On the third occasion—being a reasonable, moderate man—Bradlaugh said, "All right, I will take the oath." The House told him, "You can't, because you are not a Christian." At that point, the Speaker intervened with the sort of discretion that only Speakers have and said, "I instruct the hon. Gentleman to take the oath." The Church of England should not be presented historically as anything other than it was—a state Church which was sometimes enormously intolerant but which has gradually come to recognise that there are other views as well.
Today, we are asked to comment on the matter, and that raises in my mind the absolute absurdity of the Establishment of the Church of England. I have always been interested in three nationalised industries. One is the Church of England and another is the Post Office. When I was made Postmaster-General, I wondered what great socialist spirit had moved Charles II to nationalise the Post Office. I discovered that it was because he wanted to open everybody's letters, and he could only do that by setting up the royal mail.
The third great nationalised industry is the BBC. Just as Henry VIII wanted a priest in every pulpit in every parish every Sunday, telling parishioners that God wanted them to do what the king wanted them to do, a Conservative Government nationalised the BBC because they wanted a pundit on every channel every night, telling the public that there was no alternative to what the Conservatives wanted to do. I do not want it to be thought that nationalisation is the prerogative of the left. It has been used by the right to control our thoughts and to open our letters for many centuries.
The right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal spoke from the Government Back Benches—as is appropriate for this debate—of the role of the bishops as part of the united Catholic Church. Has any right hon. or hon. Member read the homage that a bishop must recite before he is ordained? It reads:
"I … do hereby declare that your Majesty is the only supreme governor of this your Realm in spiritual and ecclesiastical things as well as in temporal"—
bishops do not even recognise democracy—
"and that no foreign prelate or potentate has any jurisdiction within this Realm."
The Maastrich treaty will be ratified today, yet every bishop has taken an oath that
"no foreign prelate or potentate has any jurisdiction within this Realm."
Let us be clear. If the Queen became a Catholic this afternoon, the throne would be vacated. Something else
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will happen—she will become a citizen of the European union. Perhaps she could go to the European Court and say, "I have lost my job because I have changed my religion." Let us be sensible. It is time to be rid of all that.
I heard that the Queen had to give her consent to the Measure—and I know that because I have often sought her consent to establish a republic and to other minor measures of that kind—before we could discuss the ordination of women, yet she is supposed to be the supreme spiritual governor of the Church. What are the Prince of Wales's theological qualifications in this matter passes beyond belief, but he owns some benefices in Cornwall, so he had to consent, too.
A couple of days ago, the judges intervened with a judicial review of the ordination of women. On Monday, I wrote an angry letter to the Speaker because I thought that the arrogance of the judges had gone beyond control. I was reassured by the Clerk that the judges did what they ought to have done. What nonsense that is.
There is no spiritual requirement for being a Member of Parliament. I should be surprised if any right hon. or hon. Member put in his last election address, "If elected, I will vote against the ordination of women" or mention the matter in any speech. No one has the political mandate:, spiritual authority or denominational requirement to do that.
As to the House of Lords deciding the matter, the last 10 Prime Ministers put 800 people in another place. Are those party placemen to judge whether women are qualified to become ordained? That is an impossible position.
I believe that the Church of England will free itself before the end of this century, and I hope that it does so by agreement. If we turn down this Measure, then, candidly, I believe that it will accelerate disestablishment because the Church will not have it—rightly so. But I do not want the freedom of the Church of England to come as a result of a row, but by general agreement.
There is one other matter that I find offensive. I know that the Church Estates Commissioner has a job to do, but I found it offensive to be told that the House need not worry because there will be safeguards for male priests against ordained women coming into their parishes. Safeguards? My God!—what sort of man wants a safeguard in case a woman gives communion in his parish?
I will vote for the Measure because I do not believe that we have any right in the matter. As to offering safeguards and financial compensation, if it is a matter of conscience, how many people have gone to the stake for exercising their consciences? Would Cranmer have withdrawn if the Church had offered him a cheque? Are we to believe that in a deeply spiritual matter, conscience can be overcome with money? Are we to believe that a chaplain in a private school that requires an Anglican cannot carry on because of the thought that a woman might approach his school with the sacrament, and that money would settle his conscientious objection? The House is facing an absurdity.
If any compensation is to be given, it should be given to the women who have waited so patiently for the right to be ordained and to be called to serve. Compensation for the promotion of women is not an unattractive idea. When Mrs. Thatcher became Prime Minister, we might all have been compensated for the awful business of seeing her exercise supreme power. When my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) was made deputy leader of my party, I would have been happy—having once aspired to that post—to receive some beneficial bounty

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from Walworth Road. Even when the Labour party ceased to be a socialist party, I did not ask for compensation. I do not see why Church of England vicars should obtain it.
I hope that I have not detained the House or diverted it from a very important decision. I hope to live to see the day when a woman Archbishop of Canterbury greets a Pope in a Church that has ordained women. If that sounds a little extreme, it is no more extreme than a Member of Parliament telling a male-dominated House of Commons 90 years ago that one day, a woman Speaker would preside over its proceedings.
11.39 am
Dame Peggy Fenner: As somebody said to another performer, "Follow that". I hope that I shall keep to Madam Speaker's request for brief speeches.
Although history relates that the unbroken tradition of a male-dominated Church has been under pressure since the second world war, it is from about 1962, however, that the question of the ordination of women has gained some momentum. The House of Bishops, the Archbishops Commission and the General Synod have all made reports and passed motions on the subject. It seems that the Church has arrived at a conclusion after, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison), who represents the Church Commissioners, said, long, careful consideration and sometimes controversial debate. Surely after such a long traumatic journey the decision is due.
I deeply respect the views of those in the Anglican Church who cannot agree to the ordination of women. They hold that belief because of 19 centuries of tradition and they do not believe that that should be set aside. I do not agree. I hesitate to say that they are wrong, because Christians cannot always feel themselves to be right, but can only pray to take the right decision. I believe that they are wrong because when the barriers against womens' ordination were erected, the role of women was so very different. In the past, women were not expected to be educated; they were expected to be at home and to be subservient to their husbands.
Christians believe that Jesus is alive and here today, although we know that he is not present in the form of man, as he once was. Who can doubt, however, that if he were on earth and was naming his apostles and calling his disciples, there would be some women among them?
I have been delighted to note that hon. Members on both sides of the House have spoken today about vocation. Over the years in this secular establishment, we have discussed the issue of equal opportunities. I believe that many tasks that are carried out in various professions and jobs—call them what you will—are a vocation. It has become unfashionable to refer to a vocation, however, because that is seen as an excuse for inadequate pay and discrimination against women. Who can doubt that the calling to be a priest is a real vocation? If God called, would he discriminate? I do not believe that he would.
In these secluded surroundings, secular as they are, we have passed laws, sometimes painfully and, I regret to say, still in the teeth of some remaining male chauvinism, to ensure equal opportunities, equal pay and equal educational opportunities for women to ensure that we do not waste that superb asset, which makes up half of our population.
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How very much more important it is that women who feel themselves to be called to serve in the Christian Church as priests should be able to do so. They should not be put off by being told that they can be deacons or can carry out some purpose in the Church. If they are called to be priests, they should be priests.
The World Council of Churches noted in a document produced in 1982 that those churches that have accepted women into ordination
"have found that women's gifts are as wide and varied as men's and that their ministry is as fully blessed by the Holy Spirit as the ministry of men."
Women have found it very sad and hurtful that they have been excluded from serving the Lord and their faith in parishes and dioceses where undoubtedly they have a calling and could bring such love and service tok that calling.
11.44 am
Mr. Simon Hughes: I am delighted to follow the hon. Member for Medway (Dame P. Fenner), who made a clear and concise speech as the first woman to contribute to the debate.
I may be the only member of my party to speak in the debate and, as has already been said, we are all speaking as individuals today in a way that is not constrained by party obligations in this matter. However, I believe that all my colleagues support the Measure and I add one qualification. Some of my colleagues who are not here are absent only because they are at the funeral of Lord Grimond, Jo Grimond, a former member of this House. It would be inappropriate for me to commence my speech without paying my tribute on behalf of colleagues in this place to that great parliamentarian who was an inspiration to many of us on many issues.
The right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) has asked today, and on many other occasions inside and outside the House, should Parliament be dealing with this major question? Whether or not we should have to do so, we are. I am proud to be a member of a federal party which, at a recent English conference, passed by a significant majority a motion in support of disestablishing the Church of England. That is a view I share. I just wonder whether, given that it was a Liberal Government who disestablished the Church of Ireland and a Liberal Government who disestablished the Church of Wales, we shall not have to wait for a Liberal Democrat Government before the Church of England is also disestablished. As the right hon. Member for Chesterfield has said, the pressure for disestablishment is mounting fast: that may be the sign that the other scenario may not be far away.
I welcome the fact that the Church is likely to set up an inquiry into the relations between it and the state. That is timely and I hope that the Synod will decide on that at its sessions the next month.
I am strongly in favour of the Measure. I was present at the cathedral in my constituency, Southwark, a few years ago, at the first ordination of deacons after women were allowed to be deacons in the Church of England. I saw for myself that those first ordinations revealed a representative tide of womanhood who were waiting and ready to fulfil a vocation in the Church.
I am all for, as the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) put it, taking the waiting out of wanting for the hundreds of people who have been called —they know that for sure—to serve in the leadership of the

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Church. At the moment, they cannot fulfil that calling and I want the Church to allow them to fulfil their clear vocation. They have been stopped so far by the barrier of legislaiton which does not allow women to be priests in the national church of this land.
On the Ecclesiastical Committee, we asked ourselves whether we had the legal right to go ahead and propose that it was expedient that women should be ordained as priests. We took advice and we were clear that we were entitled to do so, just as the courts confirmed in their judgment this week.
We asked ourselves whether the decision was theologically justified. We came to the view that, to be honest, we were not equipped to answer to that question and that it could always be subject to dispute. It is abundantly clear to me, however, that if there can be a scriptural dispute, as there is among Christians—the most avid Bible readers and competent theologians among them —about who can be a priest and whether there should be a priesthood, as well as differences of interpretation about the meaning of what Christ said, it is not surprising that there is a difference of interpretation, then and now, about whether women should be priests, if priests are a specific category of Ministers of the Church. Because there is no clear authoritative scriptural answer, the churches of each denomination in different parts of the world have had to seek their own minds on this matter. The Church of England has done this with integrity and with honesty.
We had to ask ourselves the question posed by the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal: should we, the Anglican Church, wait until the worldwide Catholic Church agreed that we should go ahead? I understand the argument made by the right hon. Gentleman. Can we be Catholic and reformed and yet be true to the rest of the church if we are to break with the traditions of some parts of it? But many parts of the Church have already made the decision. Many parts of the Christian Church have women in leadership as ministers. Many parts of the Anglian Church have already made the decision to allow women to be priests. For example, I happen to be a member of the Church in Wales, which has made the decision. It does not appear to have caused grief, angst or any significant hardship.
I want to pick up on another point made by the right hon. Member for Chesterfield. I know, because I have heard them say it, that many women in the Roman Catholic Church are desperate for the Anglican Church to make this decision. They feel that it is important that moves are made towards having more women in leadership. They feel also that, in time, the Roman Catholic Church will also ordain women as priests. We will not just be leading in our church or in our denomination, but we will be leading in the Church as a whole.
As the Church is that diaspora of views, the decision will no more break our links with our sisters and brothers in the universal church than other decisions break those links now. I am sad every time I am told that I cannot take communion in a Roman Catholic church in my constituency with my constituents, neighbours and friends. I regard that as a barrier to Christian unity and I hope that the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations break down those barriers between churches, just as we are trying to do today.
The last question we asked ourselves was whether the Measure was reasonable. It is not perfect, and that is clear. However, at the end of the day we had to decide a simple
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question. Was the Measure expedient, meaning was it timely, appropriate and suitable overall? The answer to the question by a clear majority was yes.
The road to today has not been a short one for the Church. The Anglican Church in England has taken 20 years to decide on the matter, up until and including our debate today.
I hope that the House will not be distracted by the fact that there may be—there probably will be later—a debate on whether women should be bishops. That may come to us to decide, but it is not the matter for today. I hope that the matter will be judged on its merits and that the House will leave its judgments about the other matter to a later date, although some of us see no barrier to that either.
Let us look at what the Church is saying to us. The Church overwhelmingly has endorsed this proposition. If they had been repeated in the House, the majorities in the Synod would have given the Measure majorities of 325, 260 and 222. Each of those majorities would be more than that for the Third Reading of the Bill to endorse the Maastricht treaty which was passed just before the summer.
It was clear that there was a majority on the Ecclesiastial Committee in favour of both the main question and the financial question. I have to make a fairly obvious constitutional point. The majorities in the Church for the measure are far more substantial than the majority the Government have in the House. The majority in the Church is far more substantial than the 42 per cent. of the population who are represented on the Government Benches. The majority in the Church is far more substantial than the majorities that are usually given to any measure in the House. Over two thirds of the Church at all levels—in rural and urban areas and in nearly every diocese in the land—has said yes to the ordination of women priests.
I hope that the House will realise that our duty, as well as expressing our views, is to respond to the wish and witness of the Church. We were careful in the Committee to try to be fair, because whatever our views—those are given in the report—our job was not to adjudicate in theology, but to make sure that the rights and liberties of Her Majesty's subjects were protected. The Committee spent most of its time on the minority rights questions. For that reason, the Committee insisted that opponents of the Measure were included in the deputation from the General Synod. The right hon. Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) said that that was unusual and it was done so that the Committee could hear every view on the questions. We felt a particular responsibility to those who were and are still unhappy with the proposal. They are unhappy either because they believe that the Church is changing a position which they accepted and which they thought it had to a new position with which they disagree, or because they believe the position is fundamentally wrong.
The Committee looked at the financial implications also. We cannot amend the Measure. This is not a revising Chamber. This Measure is not like the rail privatisation Bill that will come before the House next week, where their Lordships have looked at that Bill and said that the House should think again. All that we could do on the Committee was say yes or no, but we did better than that. We said to the Church that there were areas in which we were unhappy. The Manchester Statements of the House of Bishops at the beginning and the middle of the year and the proposal for an Act of Synod currently before Synod have

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now addressed some of those concerns. The Committee insisted on extra protection for those who will be in a minority in the church if the Measure is passed.
We did one other thing as well and I should like to draw the attention of the House to one paragraph in the report. The Committee addressed the question whether—whatever our views—we wanted the Church to try to hold together and to remain united. The Committee wanted to make sure that, whatever the differences of view, the Measure did not break up the Church.
That is why paragraph 44 of report says:
"The Manchester Statements have manifestly been formulated and issued with an earnest desire to preserve unity of the Church of England and to allay the fears and doubts of the opponents of the measure. The majority of the Committee see the proposed Act of Synod as a demonstration of that desire. As already indicated, the preservation of the unity of the Church of England following the introduction of women priests will need goodwill on all sides and cannot be secured by legislation alone. It is the fervent hope of the whole Committee that that unity will be preserved."
There was only one dissentient from the report and from the proposition that the Church should remain united even though its practice was about to change. Those espousing the majority view have for a long time been denied the enactment of what they believe to be right, but they have stayed within the Church. Women who want to be ordained have argued their case and prayed and stayed within the Church. Eventually, last November, the Church responded to a generation and more of commitment to change. I hope that those who still hold the view that women cannot be priests will remain in the Church after the decision has been taken, just as those in favour of the ordination of women remained in the Church before it. The Church is not saying to them that they must change their view or that they will not be regarded as equals in the Church. The Church is not denying the holders of such beliefs the opportunity of promotion. The Church is simply saying, "We have sought over 20 years to discern the will of God. We have come to a view—it is a human view, a fallible view, perhaps even a wrong view—but we ask you to accept that it is clearly the considered view of the Church. Retain your own view. Argue your case. Hold your position. But do not do anything different from what you did when the other side of the argument prevailed."
The Church needs both traditions. Whatever views we hold and however strongly we hold them, our duty is to hold them together. A local priest whose curacy was in my constituency and whose living is just over the river came to see me earlier this year to talk the issues through on behalf of many people in the Southwark diocese. He was most helpful. He drew attention to the Manchester House of Bishops' statement, which says:
"Differing views about the ordination of women can continue to be held with integrity within the Church of England"
and that the views of those who do not accept women as priests
"will continue to be held within the Church of England and … those who hold them remain valued and loyal members of the Anglican family."
In the future, as in the past, we must have, in that priest's words,
"the two eyes of the Church trying to bring Christ into focus."
The Church has told us that there is no theological objection, that there is precedent and that there is an overwhelming will among its members that the Measures should be implemented. We are still the national Church
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and because of that we have a particular responsibility to lead the way. We have the precedent of the ordination of women as deacons and the leadership of our national Church has clearly benefited from the participation of women. The leadership of our national Church should be a role model for society and therefore should include women. It should be representative of society and therefore include women. It should be a practitioner of the equality and justice that the Gospel preaches and therefore should include women. It should reflect the feminine values and characteristics of humankind as created by our creator and therefore should include women. Finally, the leadership of our Church, if it is to be anything, should be inclusive, comprehensive and united. It can be those three things only if no one is excluded, either as a member or as a leader of the Church.
I hope that we will vote resoundingly in favour of the Measures. If we do, this will be a great day of liberation not just for women in the Church, for the Church itself or for the nation but for the cause that many of us feel that above all we are here to serve: those of us in the Church want the Gospel better to be preached and people to be saved for eternal life. In the view of the overwhelming majority of members of the Church, that will be achieved if women can play their full role—an opportunity which many of them have for too long wanted and have for too long been denied.
12.3 pm
Miss Ann Widdecombe: First, I congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) on the extremely comprehensive and moderate way in which he introduced the Measures, which I believe will have won the respect even of those who profoundly disagree with the reasons that he advanced. I also congratulate my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) on giving a clear and moving exposition of the reasons why those of us who believe in the authority of a universal Church find it quite impossible to stay within the Anglican Church if the decision to allow the ordination of women is taken and if this is now to be the nature of the Church. My right hon. Friend's speech was extremely profound, as well as being extremely learned and lucid, and I for one regretted the amount of what I considered to be inappropriate barracking that greeted his extremely serious attempt to try to get away from the secular debate and instead to explain the theological objections that some of us hold most strongly.
Let me deal first with what this issue is not about. It is not about women's rights in the secular sense. I believe that those who would promote the role of women within the Church, of whom I consider myself to be one, have to ask a rather different question from the question on which we have been concentrating. Instead of talking about women fulfulling the sacramental role of the priesthood, to which I shall return, we should ask a much more basic question: has the Church—I use the term in its broadest sense, to mean not just the Anglican Church but the Church universal—got its balance of authority right as between the clerical and the lay? There are many positions of authority held in the Church universal that do not necessarily have to be held by the priesthood. If we consider that rather more fundamental question, the role of women in the Church could be increased. None of us who object to women holding the sacramental priesthood have ever objected to

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the fact that the Queen is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, have never objected to women deacons, have never objected to women in the ministry, as opposed to the strict definition of the priesthood, and in the Church to which I now belong, I see no reason why there should not be a woman Papal Nuncio. After all, a nuncio is an ambassador and I do not see why a nuncio has necessarily to be a priest.
Let me make it clear from the beginning, I ant not opposing the Measure because I do not want to see women fulfulling an important role in the Church. I am opposing it because I believe that it is theologically impossible for women to perform the specific role of the sacramental priesthood. If a woman represents Christ as victim and priest at the Holy Communion, there may just as well be a man who represents the Virgin Mary in a nativity play. Considering the way that the Church of England has been going over the past two or three decades, it would not in the least surprise me if one day I attended a nativity play and found that the Virgin Mary had a beard.
The Church is surrendering its moral authority to purely secular arguments. I am not at all surprised in following today's debate that there is a concentration on women's rights issues—the House is a secular body, but the Synod is not. The debate in the Synod appalled me because Church matters were being determined with reference to secular approval. As a reason for voting women into the priesthood, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whom one should be able to look for spiritual, moral and theological leadership, advanced the argument that it would make the Church more acceptable to the secular world. It seems that the Church of England has not yet learned the basic message that the secular world has been sending back for the past 20 or 30 years, that compromise and a sacrifice of creed to compromise and of doctrine to doubt, and of faith -to fashion does not increase congregations or the approval of secular world but decreases congregations, decreases the standing of the Church and undermines its moral authority. Until the Church can send out the straight, simple uncompromising, courageous and at times unpopular gospel message, all the other compromises that it regularly makes come down merely to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
I could not share the rosy view of the health of the Church of England to which my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby subscribed in his excellent and able speech. He rightly said that when choosing to be baptised, married or, as he put it, reluctantly to be buried, the majority of the people in the country choose the Church of England medium through which to conduct those ceremonies. However, the fact remains that during the rest of their lives, there is a minimal number of people in the country who find spiritual sustenance from the Church of England. I will not embarrass my right hon. Friend by drawing comparisons with the ways in which congregations have grown or have been decreasing less in other denominations. One of the reasons for that failure is the way in which the Church looks to the secular world for approval instead of taking its message to the secular world.
I cannot improve on the exposition of my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal on the issue of authority, but I should like to deal with one point that my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby made. He said that, if the Church of Rome could take decisions on the immaculate conception and glorious assumption without reference to the Church of England, the Church of England
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could take decisions on orders without reference to the Church of Rome. He entirely ignored the point that my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal made about the agreement over the last decade between the various members of the Church universal not to take decisions that will damage the united base of those churches. The decisions to which my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby referred were taken by the Roman Catholic Church many decades ago and they precede this agreement. He very cleverly said that it does not make any difference because the magisterium says that Anglican orders are null and void. It does not make any difference whether those orders will be held by men or women. That is not the point. The difference is the taking of the decision in isolation. I grieve for members of the Church of England who have devoted their lives to the Church but who cannot stay as a result of that single departure from the united Church.
The right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn), in a very amusing but not always relevant speech, said that he hoped the day would come when the Roman Catholic Church would ordain women.
Mr. Derek Enright: Hear, hear.
Miss Widdecombe: I point out to the right hon. Gentleman and to those who are uttering sedentary approval that it has taken us 400 years to get round to forgiving Galileo and I do not think that the right hon. Member for Chesterfield or I will see a Roman Catholic Church that ordains women.
I now want to deal with the package of compensation for those who have been driven out of the Church by this Measure. If I have derived any amusement from this terrible, grievous and serious subject it is the sight of so many hon. Members who always cry out for employees' rights and for justice and equity brushing aside the inequity and injustice of this provision. The right hon. Member for Chesterfield asked whether Cranmer would have gone if instead of facing the stake he had faced a cheque. Even before this compensation package is in place or any money is available, at least 60 priests have left the Church of England, some of whom are married and have family responsibilities, having sacrificed their rights to that compensation in many cases. There may be no stake for them, but there is no cheque either. I find any condemnation or ridicule of the consciences of those who could not stay utterly offensive and out of keeping with the way in which we should be debating this.
I find the financial provisions Measure entirely inadequate. As my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby said, it does not cover, except in a discretionary sense, a man who has spent five years studying at theological college, a further two years as curate, who has been ordained for 30 years in the Church of England, whose wife has given up her career to support his priesthood but who is, instead of an incumbent of a parish in the Church of England—[Interruption.]
Madam Deputy Speaker: Order. The hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) knows my views about seated interventions. It is the strength of this place that we listen to views with which we may profoundly disagree.
Miss Widdecombe: A man who has served for 30 years as an ordained member of the Church of England but who

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is not an incumbent of a parish because he is a serving missionary overseas is not covered by this compensation. The case I cite is an actual one, not a theoretical one.
There is no coverage, except under discretion, for those who are serving as chaplains—for example, to the armed services or to regional health authorities—although such people might previously have been parish priests. There is no protection for them. Nor will they have protection under ordinary law as a result of the Measure. If they feel that they cannot stay, they will have no protection against constructive dismissal if they are employed by a third party —for example, a regional health authority.
If monks and nuns in religious orders, who have taken vows of poverty and have no resources of their own—and who had reasonably believed that, at the end of their lives, they would be cared for by their order—feel, as a result of this Measure, that they cannot stay, they too will have no automatic compensation.
I believe that this Measure is unpassable as it stands. I had originally thought that I would be obliged to vote for the compensation Measure because the worst of all worlds would be that we pass an order in favour of ordaining women but not an order for compensation. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) for making it clear that that will not be the result of voting against the compensation Measure. The one cannot be valid without the other, even if there is a huge vote in favour of the ordination of women.
Those who believe in justice and equity for the people who have no resources of their own, and who will not be covered by this Measure, should know that if the compensation package is rejected, it will not mean that no one will get compensation; it will mean that the legislation will have to be reworked.
I very much regret the inadequate compensation package. We have had a year since the Synod decision last November. Too little was done in advance of that decision; the attitude was, "Oh well, we have another five years. The Measure will not be passed." No sense of urgency was shown before that decision to have in place, at the time it was taken, a proper package that people could respect and take into account when voting for the main Measure.
There has been no sense of urgency since then. There has been ill-concealed panic and some hasty patch-ups, but no great sense of urgency to get to the bottom of the compensation provisions and present them to the House in a form which at least meets our standards of justice, whatever our doctrinal objections to the main Measure may be.
I have listened to the glowing accounts of the Ecclesiastical Committee's work—which was indeed difficult and complicated—but if the early Apostles had shown the same sense of urgency as the Church of England in its approach to moral issues and this compensation package, we would still be worshipping Zeus. The Church of England has failed its own members.
We have heard a lot, particularly from those in favour of the Measure, about the women who have waited patiently within the Church, sat it out and prayed for the resolution that they desired. Those in favour ask why we should be sympathetic to people who have lost the argument when those women have waited patiently for all these years. The answer is that the terms were never
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changed for the women who waited patiently. When they came into communion with the Church, when they took confirmation, even when they took ordination as deacons, they knew the terms that the Church was setting out. Those who were confirmed and ordained decades ago—like the clergyman to whom I referred, who is now a serving missionary and excluded from compensation—came into the Church on one set of terms and on one doctrine to which they subscribed, which has now been changed over their heads. That is the fundamental difference.
If those who exhibit disagreement with what I am saying were not so wholly taken up with the argument about women's rights—which is not the main argument here—they would feel strongly about the injustice and inequity of the compensation package.
Mr. Simon Hughes: Will the hon. Lady give way?
Miss Widdecombe: Before I give way to the hon. Gentleman, let me make a plea to hon. Members. The way, in which they vote on the first Measure must be a matter of conscience, but the second Measure is another issue. The people to whom I have referred look to us to ensure that the position is somewhat better than it is now: only the House can afford them protection.
Mr. Simon Hughes: The hon. Lady is right to identify the distinction between those who joined the Church under the old order, as it were, and those who joined, and find themselves in a different position, under the new order. The answer to the anxiety that she has expressed is that the Church will exclude no one if we change the rule. The Church will allow those who object to remain in it, to have their views respected and to be promoted in the Church. They are not being driven out in any way. If they choose to leave, that is their choice; but the Church wants them to stay.
Miss Widdecombe: When I said that such people were excluded from the Measure, I was talking about exclusion from the compensation package. Many of us, however, would regard ourselves as being excluded by the Measure. I was one of those who said, right at the start, "This is the nature of the Church of England. I shall not stay in it, and cause a division; I will go, because I accept that this is the direction in which the Church is now going—although there may be a few setbacks on the way for proponents of the Measure. Once that was decided, I went; but, at the time, I felt that I had been driven out.
I strongly sympathised with what the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) said earlier about the need for Churches to be in communion with each other. I spent four months in technical communion with no one; even when I believed myself to be in communion with the Holy See, I was still out of communion until all the formalities had been completed.
I am a member of the laity. It is relatively easy—in physical and financial terms, if not in spiritual terms—for members of the laity to leave the Church. The struggle that I have described however, is deep rooted: it will not simply disappear, as my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) seemed to suggest. Many serving members of the clergy in the Church of England—missionaries, monks, nuns and chaplains—will say that they have been excluded.
The way in which my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby proposed the motion showed, in large measure, the

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attitude that I hope the House will adopt. Even if hon. Members cannot understand the reasons involved, I ask them to understand that the matter goes well beyond rights and secular concerns. The sacramental nature of the priesthood is precious, and some people will never be able to come round to the change. At least 60 clergy have already left the Church, and I believe that many more will go when the Measure is passed and the first priestess is ordained—because they will then be confronted with the utter reality, and will know that there is no turning back.
Members of the laity can make the decision that the right hon. Member for Chesterfield suggested was so easy. We can just go, albeit with a huge struggle; but the clergy cannot, and they are not well covered by the compensation Measure. The hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey and my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby have more or less admitted it. What will determine whether those people receive any protection is the amount of money that the Church Commissioners have—and, as we know, the Church Commissioners are facing a black hole of £800 million, which is not entirely accounted for.
Mr. Rowe: Will my hon. Friend give way?
Miss Widdecombe: I shall not forget my hon. Friend. I shall give way to him at a convenient time, and he must remind me quickly if I end my speech without having done so.
I think it important that we do not, at any rate, vote for the second Measure. As for the first, I seek to persuade no one. I think that the issue of the sacramental priesthood is very personal: it is based on a person's own spirituality, belief, prayer and receipt of the Holy Spirit and guidance. I do seek to persuade the House, however, to recognise the grievous position that those in holy orders who share my views—there are some in my own family—now face.
I do not believe that the Church has yet done all that it may. I do not believe that the provisions outlined by my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby, which will sustain the freedom to dissent, are sustainable. They are okay for an immediate transition, but I do not believe that the conscience clause will be worth the paper that it is not written on in 10 years' time in the Church of England.
I think that we shall find a self-selecting Church where vocations are not recognised by priests who do not believe in the ordination of women, where preferment is denied to bishops, or would-be bishops, who do not believe in the ordination of women. The transition period may be quite satisfactory, but it is unsustainable. The Measure, as drawn, is designed to be unsustainable. It is designed not to be written down as legally binding for ever. I think that we have given them a raw deal. Before I sit down, I shall give way to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Rowe: My hon. Friend's powerful case has been weakened by the contempt that she pours on the Church that she has recently left. I should like to ask her whether she has such a low opinion of the Church of England that she does not trust its discretion, for example, in the case of the ordained man about whom she spoke who has been in the church for 30 years. It seems inconceivable to me that, under the discretionary powers, such a person would be excluded from the compensation package.
Miss Widdecombe: If it is so inconceivable, the Church had a simple option. It could have included certain specified categories of people and still had an open
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category for discretion. It could have included those people within the statutory compensation package. It did not. I am not respectful of the way that the Church of England has put its message across in recent years. That is no secret to anybody. I do not feel contempt, and the hon. Gentleman has failed to recognise that. I feel deep grief, deep disappointment and, yes, deep anger.
Contrary to the views of the right hon. Member for Chesterfield and the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, who spoke as a member of the Ecclesiastical Committee, although the division between myself and the Church of England is very deep, although the disrespect that I feel for a lot of it—but not all of it—is deep, I never want to see that Church disestablished. If the price that we have to pay for having an established Church is that unbelievers and others will be voting on Anglican Measures, it is a price worth paying, if the other option is finally to remove the tenuous spirituality of this country, where only the recognition of an established Church, through having a crown which holds its authority as a result of a coronation by an Archbishop of Canterbury, gives us religion in schools. If we cut those links, it will be the death of spirituality in Britain. I do not believe that the Church of England has done much to promote it.
12.27 pm
Ms Clare Short: Like many, I would imagine, I found the speech of the hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) sad. Obviously it is sad for someone to feel such dislike of a Church that they cared about, but the hon. Lady has joined my ex-Church. She should be celebrating that. If she joined the Catholic Church full-bloodedly, why is she so bitter? Why does she not celebrate her new Church? I am absolutely confident that there will be women priests in the Catholic Church before long.
Miss Widdecombe: I must say to the hon. Lady that she is not hearing bitterness. She cannot discern between the two. It is utter grief and anger, which sometimes sound like bitterness. It is utter disbelief at what has been going on, that we have not only managed to consecrate bishops who do not believe in the resurrection and the virgin birth, but that we cannot get our moral message across. Yes, I am very angry.
Ms Short: I am sorry that the hon. Lady feels like that. I hope that she will feel better soon and that her new Church will comfort her.
Some of us find ourselves in an odd position in this debate. The Church of England has decided by an overwhelming majority in its three houses—Bishops, Clergy and Laity—after a debate lasting many years, that it wishes to ordain women as priests. Obviously, in the House of Commons there are many of us of other religions and faiths, and of none, who do not believe that we are entitled to tell the Anglican Church what it should do. However, because it is the established Church in Britain, we are having the debate and we have a right to vote.
It would be deeply wrong for the House not to uphold the decision made by the Synod of the Church of England. Many of us who are not of the Anglican Church have received all sorts of letters and messages from people in our constituencies who are deeply committed to that Church asking us to vote for the Measure and thereby uphold the decision. I am sure that that is the right way to

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proceed, and anyone who is fair about such matters will vote in that way.
Many hon. Members wish to speak in the debate, so I shall try to be brief. Yesterday, I met briefly Mrs. Caroline Davis of the Movement for the Ordination of Women. She made clear something that the hon. Member for Maidstone denied—that the argument within the Anglican Church has been conducted not as an argument over women's rights but as a theological argument. The issue is theological.
The right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) hides his true reasoning. He cannot say that a woman or a girl can be a full member of the Church, can be baptised and welcomed into it, but that if she had a vocation cannot become a priest. By saying that, he is saying that women cannot be full members of the Church and cannot be fully baptised and belong to the Church. Let me take the right hon. Gentleman back to the days of slavery in the Caribbean. It was an offence for anyone to baptise a slave because baptism recognised full humanity. Once girls are baptised and are members of the Church, if they have a vocation, they must have the right to become a priest. If not, one would be saying that they are inferior and that there is something different or wrong about them.
Mr. Gummer: I do not think that it is right for any of us to try to understand each other's motives. I do not know what the hon. Lady's motives are. She is a former member of the Roman Catholic Church and is taking part in the debate, as all of us have a right to do; that is perfectly reasonable. My motives are simple. I do not have a view about whether women can be ordained because my theological position is that that is a decision that can be made only by the whole Church. That is a straightforward theological view. We may have different views on other matters, but on that she must not say that I have a hidden agenda.
Happily, many members of the Movement for the Ordination of Women have been kind enough to accept, even though they may be ardent feminists, that there is no reason to doubt the position of many of us on the issue. We would hold it if the Church of England had changed the creed or any other orders. The hon. Lady must accept the bona fides of those who try to put a logical theological case before the House.
Ms Short: The right hon. Gentleman must indeed make his own argument. Everyone respects that. It would be extraordinary if a Church that changed so much at the time of the reformation could not change now. I could not comprehend that; it would not make any sense. There is no logic or reason, but I accept that the right hon. Gentleman thinks that there is reason and logic in it.
The theological reality touches on women's rights because it is a profound acceptance of women's equality as human beings. How can anyone who believes that Jesus Christ came to earth to save men and women say that he was representing men and not women? The more one continues with the argument, the more intolerable it becomes. It does not stand up.
I have here a quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu which makes this argument. He said in 1992:
"I am more convinced than ever before that theologically, biblically, socially, ecumenically, it is right to ordain women to the priesthood. The most radical act that can happen to any human being is to become a member of the body of Christ. If gender
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cannot be a bar to baptism, then gender cannot be a bar to ordination. The Bible is quite clear that the divine image is constitutive of humanity, irrespective of gender. I cannot have stuggled against an injustice that penalises people for something they can do nothing about, their race, and then accept with equanimity the gross injustice of penalising others for something they can do nothing about, their gender."
That says it all, and says it finely, and it is a fine and brave man who says it.
I must put a couple of other arguments before the House. First, the first Anglican woman to be ordained a priest was ordained 50 years ago, and half the Anglican Church worldwide now has women priests. That is not a new step. In Ireland—north and south—the Church of Ireland, which is the Anglican authority there, has women priests.
Secondly, women were first ordained deacons—the first stage in holy orders—in 1987. That was when the General Synod and Parliament first agreed to the important extension of the ministry to women, that women could be deacons. There are now about 1,500 women deacons in England. They work in the Church of England as vicars, curates, chaplains, preachers and teachers. They baptise and take weddings and funerals. They are in charge of parishes, university chaplaincies, hospital chaplaincies and so on. They are the priests to their people in all but name.
Parishes want—the figures are clear—the deacon who works in their parish to be a priest. People do not want to continue having to import a male priest to say the one prayer in the Holy Communion that must be said by a priest. It makes nonsense of the pastoral care given by the women deacons all this time.
The Measure writes itself. We have got there. The Anglican Church has had its argument. There are women out there doing it. This is a democratic decision; it is right in principle. But it is also right that the Church should be generous to those who are wrong. It is always right that we should try to be generous to those who disagree with us and who are, in my view, profoundly wrong.
The arrangements that have been made and carefully organised so that everyone can be cared for are fine and are to be respected. I believe, as does the hon. Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe), that when the situation settles down the numbers of people who leave the Church will be small. The Church of England has conducted itself with great dignity in the argument and in the arrangements that it has made. It has come to the right decision, and those who are wrong should accept it and uphold the democratic decision of the Church.
12.37 pm
Mr. Michael Stern: I am grateful for the opportunity to make a few brief comments in the debate. Like the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms Short), I come to the debate as a non-communicant in the Church of England; indeed, I come to the debate as a lapsed Jew.
The first question that I ask myself is one that was brought out by the intervention of my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) at the beginning of the debate: what role does someone in my position have in debates on matters affecting the Church of England? That aspect of the debate has not been questioned for some time.
Let us recall a measure that caused as much controversy in the Church as has the ordination of women—the introduction of the new prayer book in 1927. I am

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heartened by the comments that were made in that debate by Sir William Joynson-Hicks. He was approached by hon. Members who felt that there was something wrong in their taking part in a debate on Church matters when they were not part of that Church. He told them:
"'…you are sent here as Members of Parliament. You have no right in, perhaps, the most difficult and dangerous vote that this House has ever given, to disfranchise your constituents.'…every Member who comes into this House has a bounden duty to consider for himself the great issues which are put before him and to decide those isues in what he believes to be the interests of right and justice."—[Official Report, 15 December 1927; Vol. 211, c. 2550.]
In a House that, after many years of vilification and abuse, finally admitted Catholics, non-conformists, Jews, atheists and today, I believe, Muslims, there must surely be as valid a role for every Member of Parliament in debates on the Church of England as there is for communicants.
The next question that I have to ask myself is not what is the role of Members of the House within and without the Church in such debates, but what is the role of the House? We are considering this Measure not as members of different religions but as Members of the House of Commons. Our role is difficult to define, but I find it easy to define what it is not. It seems clear that in a multi-faith —increasingly no-faith—House of Commons we must not attempt to take on the role of redefining or defining the doctrine of the Church of England. Doctrinal matters do not play a part in this debate. With all affection towards my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) and my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe), under that definition the major part of what they had to say—however interesting—was out of order.
If the House defines matters relating to the Church of England by reason of doctrine, the House is also saying that there are first and second-class Members. No matter what our doctrine, we must decide the matter as Members of this House. It therefore seems to me that we must decide it on the basis of what is the good governance of the established Church. I entirely agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone. I find it inconceivable that the House will ever concede the disestablishment of the Church, just as I find it inconceivable that a tree that is many hundreds of years old can hack away one of its major roots.
If we are to conclude the matter on the basis of what is right and proper for an established Church, we must conclude that the Measure must be passed. The Church is part of this country's constitution in every other part of which women are given an equal and full part to play. Male and female monarchs have alternated, we have had a female Prime Minister, and we now have a female Speaker. I find it difficult to imagine that we can set aside one part of the constitutional fabric that makes up the United Kingdom and say that there, and only there, women will not be permitted to play their full role. I therefore feel that the Measure must proceed on that secular basis.
12.42 pm
Mr. Peter Hardy: I think that the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) and I will vote in the same Lobby. My only criticism is that he seemed to suggest that the arguments of right hon. and hon. Members should be restricted and that spiritual or theological aspects should not impinge on our debate. Hon. and right hon. Members must be free to choose their own topics. If they
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wish to make arcane, bitter, or even extremely well-informed speeches, they must be allowed to do so. For me, the one light moment in the speech of the hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) was her reference to the impossibility of a male impersonating the Virgin Mary —in boys' schools they have to, which is why I am in favour of co-education.
I shall be brief. I was a member of the Ecclesiastical Committee and I thought deeply about the subject, although I said little because most of the words were spoken—sometimes exhaustively—by people who opposed the Measure. I am not criticising some Conservative Members who take an entirely different view from my own, but I have three reasons for my view and for the votes that I cast in favour of ordination and the principle of decent treatment for those who find that they cannot accept the decisions.
The first reason is that I believe that it would be outrageous for Parliament and the country to disregard the decision made by the Synod of the Established Church, not least because of the overwhelming number of votes cast in the Synod. In November 1992, 553 votes were cast in all three houses, of which 384 were cast for and 169 were cast against. A two-thirds rule applied—I wish it existed here as it would have meant that we would not have some of the legislation which has been passed through our establishment in the past few years. The Synod's vote was decisive. It would be catastrophic for the Church and damaging for the House if we sought to stem that tide of democracy on an issue that had been under consideration for a long time. The House would do the Church a profound disservice if it sought to stem that development.
The second reason for my vote is that the position that we are seeking to change was established because in biblical times and for much of not only the first millennium, but the second, it was impossible for women to gain equality. They were little more than chattels. It would have prevented the development of Christianity if forward-looking decisions had not been made. We are not talking about forward-looking decisions now, but about more than 51 per cent. of the population. As my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) reminded us, gender is not a bar to baptism, and gender should not remain a bar to ordination, as an inhibition and restriction on the pastoral work of the female deacon.
I am a nonconformist who clings to and enjoys attendance in the established Church, and the third reason for my vote is that it would be entirely wrong for us to vote against the ordination of women when there is no clear biblical authority to deny that. I have not found any spiritual authority to justify a different decision.
Miss Widdecombe: Timothy?
Mr. Hardy: The hon. Lady may have a different view of the scriptures, but when the day of Pentecost came, the decision was unavoidable. By 1992, the historic limitations on the role of the female in our society were being gradually removed. It would be wrong for the House to say that the clock must remain for ever in medieval times.
We need a Church that is vigorous and attractive, and is seen as having a modern and realistic purpose. In recent years, we have seen a great deal of greed, and privilege has been given a high priority. There has been a little less concern than there should be for those who are

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underprivileged or disadvantaged. The voice of the Church needs to ring out and to spell out not only the old message, but the modern judgment. A Church that did not allow women to echo that judgment would be failing its tradition and its future.
12.47 pm
Mr. Patrick Cormack: I am delighted to follow the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) who, like me, serves on the Ecclesiastical Committee. I am sorry that I shall have to cross swords with him, but he will not be surprised at that.
A disappointing theme which has run through the debate and has come from those who support the Measure has been the implicit suggestion in so much of what has been said that, historically, women have not played a crucial role in the history of the Church. What about Mary Magdalene, Hilda of Whitby, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila and Teresa of Calcutta? The idea that a woman has to be a priest in order to fulfil her spiritual role in the Church is a gross distortion and misconception.
I do not oppose the Measure on grounds of equality or ability. I yield to no one in my admiration for women and in welcoming the fact that they now play such a full and vibrant part in the life of our community in all spheres and at all levels. I am delighted that our Speaker is a woman. Over 14 years, we had the interesting experience of a woman Prime Minister. I viewed that with delight on some occasions and with less ecstasy on others, but nobody could deny that she was a great Prime Minister.
For me, this is not a question of equality, still less a question of ability. Nobody suggests that women do not have the ability to answer the highest calling and to fulfil all manner of roles. The issue is not that, and anyone who suggests that it is, as did the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms Short), is doing the cause of women a disservice.
I have been an Anglican all my life and sang, perhaps not altogether well, in a choir as a boy. I have rung the bells, served at the altar, and have been a sidesman and a church warden. I also think that I have served longer than any other hon. Member on the Ecclesiastical Committee. Throughout, I have been proud, and remain proud, of my membership of the Anglican church.
It is on this that, to some extent, I cross swords with my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) and my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe), both of whom I deeply respect and greatly admire. My hon. Friend has left the Church of England, and I inferred from my right hon. Friend's speech that a decision in his case is imminent about whether the Church of England can any longer contain him if we take this step. I respect their views, because I have wrestled with the matter and continue to do so.
But there is another way. I hope that the Church of England can continue to provide a home for people like me who are distressed by the Measure. At stake is the survival of a broadly based national Church. There are many virtues in having an established Church, but I shall not expand on that because it has been well dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison), who introduced
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the Measure, and by the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn), who dealt with it hilariously and who supports the Measure.
Suffice it to say that I wish to see this broadly based national Church remain established. But it can only be broadly based and national if it is characterised by tolerance and can say to those of us who have not changed, "You are still welcome." It should also say to priests and those who have the vocation to be priests that the highest offices of the Church are still open to them.
This is a difficult issue over which many people have agonised for a long time. I do not pretend that the majority of the thousands of letters that I have received on the issue were not in favour of the measure. There was a small majority in favour, but many hundreds of people were not. I shall not bore the House by quoting at length, but I should like to quote brief extracts from two letters, one from a layman and the other from a group of clergy. The layman said:
"People like me, who have just continued to believe the traditional teachings of the Church of England as set out in the 39 Articles of Religion and the Ordinal of the Book of Common Prayer, find ourselves marginalised and discounted by the vociferous campaign of those in favour."
A group of clergy in the dioccese of Exeter wrote:
"The division will be felt not only in the relationship of the Church of England to the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, but also locally within the Church of England, and within every diocese, wherever bishops choose to embark on this course of action …Those of the clergy and laity who understand the Church of England in the light of Scripture, the Creeds, the Fathers and the early Councils, cannot put aside their deeply held, conscientious convictions …They seek the peace and unity of the Church on Apostolic and Catholic foundations. They desire that the offices of bishops, priests and deacons, as they have existed since the Apostles' time, be continued, and reverently used and esteemed."
No one can pretend—and I hope that no one who has studied the subject would pretend—that there are not deep feelings among some of the most profound believers.
Although it is true that 70 million people belong to the Church within the Anglican communion, we must accept that many more millions belong to the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. However, the overwhelming view of those of Catholic and Apostolic belief is that it is not possible for a woman to be a priest. In using the word "possible", I ask those hon. Members of the female sex to accept that it is a question not of equality, but of difference. I do not believe that a woman can be a priest any more than she can be a father. To me, it is as simple as that—[Interruption.] My hon. Friends may mutter in disagreement, but that is a view which is held by the vast majority of practising Christians in the Church. If we want to be tolerant of people's beliefs, we must recognise that fact.
Mr. Andrew Mackinlay: It is not true.
Mr. Cormack: It is true. Whatever the hon. Gentleman does with his head—and he can gyrate it backwards, forwards or sideways—it is a fact. He may regret that it is a fact and he may profoundly disagree with that view, as he is entitled to do. A number of Churches have ministers, not priests, who are women. There is a difference between the minister's role and the priestly function.
If, in future, the Church of England is to contain both those who believe in the ordination of women and those who cannot accept that, there must be a realistic accommodation. Most of the debate in the Ecclesiastical Committee centred on the issue of safeguards for those of

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traditional orthodox persuasions and what could be done to encourage them to remain within the Church of England. When we first began our deliberations, it was with just the Measure before us and in the immediate aftermath of the first meeting at Manchester and the statement that has become known as "Manchester 1". In Manchester at the beginning of the year, there was already a recognition among bishops that the traditional orthodox believers were far more deeply distressed than the bishops ever thought they would be. I speak of not only the clergy but the laity. I am glad that the hon. Member for Wentworth agrees.
When the Committee met, we inevitably fastened on to that. As an Ecclesiastical Committee, we decided that while we would recognise the theological differences, we would not become bogged down in them, but would concentrate on the safeguards issue. We did precisely that. It is partly, if not largely, a result of cross-examination in that Committee that we had the promise of an Act of Synod. That was incorporated in the second Manchester statement, which came to be known as "Bonds of Peace".
While many of us on that Committee, which voted fairly consistently, welcomed the Act of Synod, 11 of us did not feel that it went far enough—lacking as it does the full force of a Measure and, therefore, not affording the same legislative protection. We begged the archbishops to think again. The 11 of us who voted against the Measure wrote to the archbishops in the summer:
"We hold to the orthodox Christian doctrine on these matters and we hold to the view that if there is to be a movement in this direction it should be on the basis of a decision taken on behalf of the whole of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. Nevertheless, our main concern now is for the continuation of the Church of England as a broadly based and national Church, and one in which there is indeed not only a present but a continuing and welcome place for those who think and believe as we do."
We begged the archbishops even at that late stage to contemplate another Measure—not to delay this one, but to promise that another would follow.
Even at this stage, I beg the archbishops to think of that. I do not doubt their integrity or good faith, but they will not be in office for ever. If we are to preserve the Church of England's continuity and the possibility of a continuing role for traditional, orthodox believers, two things must happen. First, such believers must be made to feel welcome. That is difficult to achieve by legislation. Secondly, there must be positive steps and movements. Last week, three suffragan bishops were appointed who hold to traditional and orthodox beliefs, but one of the most eminent theologians in the Church of England, the Warden of Keble, has gone to Basingstoke. That is a wonderful place, but I shall not believe that we are on the way until one has gone to Durham when the Bishop of Durham retires this year.
Durham has a tradition of lively, off-centre and perhaps rather eccentric bishops, so perhaps that would be the place for a real advocate of what I acknowledge to be a minority point of view. Nevertheless, let us have one or two senior diocesan bishops, and then we shall really believe that there is continuity, that we have a welcome place and that there is a future for the Church of England as a broadly based national Church.
My second appeal is not to the archbishops but to all those in the House and outside it who are worried, questioning and concerned believers who hold the Church of England dear, as I do, and who have a deep and abiding affection for it. Let us at least give the archbishops a little time to deliver. Let us test their resolve and good faith and
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not leave unless we really feel forced out. But if Basingstoke is succeeded by Basildon, Basildon by Barnsley, and if Durham and Winchester and the other high points within the Church of England go to those who are prepared to contemplate only one view—the ordination of women—we shall believe that we are excluded.
Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman: The Bishop of Winchester does not support the ordination of women.
Mr. Cormack: That may be so, but, sadly, Winchester will become vacant soon, as will Chichester. Those are some of the key bishoprics that must give the continuity that we seek. If we have that, I believe that there is a future for a broadly based Church of England. If not, I am sad to say that within a year or two I will feel as my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal and my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone feel now. I hope that, from the outside, they will look in and that their prayers will sustain us as we struggle to maintain a Church of England that is a true national Church.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Morris): Order. Before I call the next hon. Member I must tell the House that 11 hon. Members are trying to catch my eye to speak. In this debate of all debates, it is important that I try to call as many hon. Members as possible. I therefore make a plea for succinct speeches.
1.5 pm
Mr. Andrew Mackinlay: It was not my intention to attend this morning, not because I consider this matter to be unimportant, but because I deeply resent the fact that parliamentary time and energy are being spent on one Church of the country. I also resent the fact that a Question Time is devoted to Church of England matters, which also takes up the energy and resources of Parliament. It is time that people paused and thought how ridiculous it is that Parliament is considering matters which should be the exclusive concern of the Church of England.
Reference has been made to the national Church. We should remember that we are the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is, therefore, important to remember that the Church of Wales and the Church of Ireland are disestablished. The legislation of the Church of Scotland is not dealt with in this place and we do not have a Question Time devoted to it. It is, therefore, wrong for us to discriminate in favour of the Church of England. Why should we spend the time and energy of this place on a supposed national Church when it is the Church of England exclusively?
I turned up today because the overwhelming consideration in this matter is justice. My women constituents have written to me because they feel strongly about this issue. I do not believe that there is any theological impediment to prevent women from becoming priests. On this occasion, I will support the Measures, but I hope that this will be the last time that other hon. Members and I are distracted from the more important issues of social justice, unemployment and constraints on the national health service. Those are the issues which should be the business of this place, rather than legislation governing the Church of England.

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When we discuss such matters, we cannot help but trespass into matters of theology and doctrine. Hon. Member after hon. Member has done just that and there is a danger that I, too, have fallen into that trap, because I said that I do not believe there is any theological impediment against the ordination women priests. When we debate such Measures, we will always end up discussing theology, but is it not crazy that the legislature of a modem-day parliamentary democracy should be discussing this issue when so many other matters should be pre-occupying our time?
Mr. Gummer: I hope that the hon. Gentleman will accept that, for many of us, there is no subject more important than eternal truth. The day that this Parliament considers any of the subjects that he has mentioned to be more important than that is the day that this Parliament has denied its entire history. The hon. Gentleman does not understand that this Parliament is what it is because of its Christian background; without that, it would be of very much less value.
Mr. Mackinlay: I object to the whole thrust of the right hon. Gentleman's remarks. The matter of seeking truth is one with which we are all charged, but it is a matter of individual conscience and not a matter for a national legislature. It is ridiculous that the matter is raised here. If it is correct for Church of England matters to be raised in the House, why is not it correct for every other denomination?
Mr. Roger Evans: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that it was an appropriate course for the House to intervene and to pass legislation twice in this century that enabled different creeds of the Methodist Church to unite, and to allow the Baptists and the Congregationalists to become the United Reform Church? Were not those interventions proper parliamentary activities?
Mr. Mackinlay rose—
Rev. Ian Paisley: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Is it correct that the Baptists and Congregationalists did not unite? Was not it the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists who united?
Mr. Mackinlay: It is obvious that the House passes legislation on a whole range of issues. There are private Bills and public Bills and there are occasions when it is necessary for legislation to be passed. On exceptional occasions, there are Acts that relate to the Church of Scotland. If it is necessary that legislation be facilitated at the request of certain churches, because there is no other way, I would welcome that.
The matter today is one where the Church of England is trespassing on important parliamentary time and energies at some cost in resources. That is an irritant to me, and others believe it to be archaic. If it continues, and there is no attempt to repatriate the business of the Church from this place to the Synod, it will become an impertinence. I want hon. Members and anyone who reads our debates subsequently to pause and reflect that surely the next Measure to come before the House should be a request from the Synod to repatriate or to devolve these parliamentary duties from here to that Synod. I would support that.
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Before speaking today, I spoke informally to one of my hon. Friends, who told me that I was talking about disestablishment. With respect, I am not. I am agnostic on the question of disestablishment. It is not a corollary of the House removing its jurisdiction and responsibility for Church of England matters. The Church of Scotland is a national Church which has some constitutional relationship with the monarch and with the head of state. However, we do not discuss Church of Scotland matters in the House.
I am angry that the matter is before the House. It is a constitutional anachronism, but I did not want the debate to pass without registering a protest. The Measure is before us and, as an hon. Member, I feel obligated to attend and vote on it because of the interest of my constituents. I listened carefully to the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) who pointed out that once a Measure is before the House, every hon. Member is obliged to address themselves to it.
The Measure should not be before the House. For that reason, I hope that this will be the last occasion on which the time and energy of the House are taken up. I wish the Church of England well. I am not an Anglican, and the fact that I am voting on the Measure makes it even more barmy. I hope that the Church will decide that such matters are exclusively for the Church. The Synod, and then the Church as a whole, should come knocking on the door of Parliament, asking us to devolve to the Synod in future all matters that relate to the Church. Then, we could move on to other, more pressing and important national business.
1.13 pm
Miss Emma Nicholson: I should like to thank the Whip who is on duty and to mention to him the remarkable speeches that we have had on a one-line Whip on a matter that affects us all most profoundly. Generally, such matters tend to be concerned with life and death, and I would put this great spiritual debate in that context. There have been some remarkable speeches, several of which I profoundly disagree with. I would not wish that disagreement to denigrate the quality of the speeches. I am referring to the speeches made by hon. Members who are opposed to the Measure.
Let me sound a less comfortable note for a moment. Although the quality of speeches has been high, the point of order that preceded the debate left a sour taste in my mouth. My hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden), who raised the point of order, claimed that hon. Members who did not belong to the Church of England should not have the right to debate this issue. He referred to the great religions and to those who did not belong to any religion at all, be they atheists or agnostics. He defined the Christian denominations, and said that only communicant members of the Church of England should participate, or words to that effect. The argument that the matter should not be before the House at all has been exhaustively and effectively explored by the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) and others.
But my hon. Friend the Member for Kemptown—in a way that I found unsatisfactory, unattractive and denigratory of many hon. Members and millions of people outside the House—added feminism to his list of the religions whose members should not participate in the debate. I found that profoundly shocking, not just for the obvious reason that feminism is clearly not a religion—neither a faith nor a belief in God—but because my hon.

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Friend, perhaps without realising it, sought to debar from the debate on this important subject, and presumably also on other matters, men and women who would argue today that women can be doctors, lawyers, sailors, bus drivers, Members of Parliament, peers, Prime Ministers, queen, Cabinet Ministers, stockbrokers and teachers.
Miss Widdecombe: Will my hon. Friend give way?
Miss Nicholson: My hon. Friend has had her turn and I know that time is short, so I shall not give way for the moment.
I suggest that, although the question of the authority of this House to debate such matters has been explored, the proposition that all of us should debate it with honour and propriety has not been properly explored. One of the greatest women to live in the last century wrote:
"I would have given the Church my head, my hand, my heart. She would not have them. She did not know what to with them. She told me to go back and do crochet in my mother's drawing-room; or if I were tired of that, to marry and look well at the head of my husband's table. 'You may go to Sunday School if you like it', she said. But she gave me no training even for that. She gave me neither work to do for her, nor education for it."
That was a letter from Florence Nightingale dated 1852.
Women of Florence Nightingale's quality have been debarred by the Church of England from participating in the life of a priest and in 1852 would have been debarred from debating in this Chamber. Such a woman would not have been allowed to put her name down to speak this morning. Indeed, she would presumably have been classified as a feminist and therefore not allowed to speak on those grounds alone.
Those who believe, as I do, that women should be ordained as full priests in the Church of England have conducted a high-ground debate. But the level of debate among those who oppose the ordination of women—apart from those who have spoken this morning—has in many cases been abominable. The word "priestess"—with the implied pagan connotations that that term carries—has consistently been used in Church of England newspapers. It is implied that there is a connection with human sacrifice, or with something squalid, or with the Roman religion, by which, of course, I mean the religion of Julius Caesar.
I suggest that the basis of those people's argument is fear. What is it that people are so worried about in the concept of women standing at the altar saying the prayer of consecration? The reasons are complex and, in my view, frequently beyond the realm of human understanding and debate. It has a lot to do with fear of women and power.
One of my constituents heard an opponent of the Measure describe his nightmare scene of a monstrous regiment of Thatcheresque women. That merely shows that the curious and conflicting views of people in opposition to this Measure are in some way connected with fright. The trouble is that when part of the debate is based on fright rather than reason, people's views become so deeply entrenched that they cannot think rationally.
We cannot escape from the theological debate at the core of the argument, and we should not do so; I agree with the hon. Member for Thurrock on that. If we are to debate religion, we must talk about theology. Theology means "the Word of God," and it is the purpose of religion to explore and to dissiminate the word of God and, if we happen to be Christians, to live the life of Christ.
Alas, the debate also has to be related to gender, but not, in my view, to feminism, which is something different. I agree that feminism is a secular matter. It is about equal
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rights and opportunity for all people—men, women, children, young, old, black, white or any other colour. Feminism is a strand of the human rights debate, but not a strand of the theological debate. I wish to put the theological points, which are of necessity concerned with gender because we are talking about the gender of Christian priests. I do not subscribe to the argument that if priests represent Jesus Christ, they must of necessity be male as Christ himself. If Christ is to be the salvation of men and women, it is not as easy as that. Christ was born to represent humanity, not just one gender. Surely the critical aspect of Jesus Christ as the leader of the Christian faith is not that he was male or had a certain hair colour or was unmarried or was a Jew or had a certain facial colour or was a certain height or was a certain size or had a certain eating habit. As Christians, the point must be made that he embodied God; he was God made man. The English language is sometimes sparse. Since it is the common, leading language of the world, many words are less complex than the words they translate. In Greek, there is a distinction between "anthropos" and "homos", as in Latin between "homos" and "vir".
God was made man not as a male but as the human being representing humanity. Who can say that one group of human beings can uniquely claim to represent he who represented the Word made flesh, not the Word made gender-identified man? The Word made flesh is not somebody who is defined by the physical mechanism of procreation. It is nothing to do with human fertility; it has to do with relationships between us and God. If one believes that only one particular group of human beings can represent Christ, those people must not only be male, but to be Jewish, unmarried, have a certain hair colour, be the same age as Christ when he died, and be the only son of God. In addition, all priests would have to be perfect and flawless, which clearly they are not.
It is a heresy to say that the priest representing Christ has to be a man physically akin to Christ, and of the same background. That was the heresy to which the Archbishop of Canterbury referred on which he was misquoted in Reader's Digest. I suggest that transubstantiation is the key. It is, for an Anglican, proper to choose to believe that the body and blood of Chirst, when consecrated, become Christ in actual essence but not that the priest carrying out the consecration is also transubstantiated. We are indeed pagans, if that is the view that we hold.
The other function that a full priest can carry out that a partial priest, as many women are today, cannot is to give the blessing. Yet over many decades, the wording of the blessing has been fractionally altered so that women can and do deliver it. Who in this Chamber will dare to suggest that a man of the human species is uniquely equipped to be the only link with God, the only transmitter of the Almighty's power in delivering the full blessing? Is that the way in which we deliver the logos and honour the Word of God?
1.25 pm
Ms Jean Corston: I agree absolutely with the point that was made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn). It is inappropriate that the House should be discussing the matter at all. The Church has agonised over the issue for most of my lifetime and has now reached a clear decision, which we should all respect.

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I should want to identify myself with the comments of the hon. Member for Medway (Dame P. Fenner). If Christ were to come to earth now it is inconceivable that he would not choose women as his apostles. The Bible shows that the treatment Christ accorded to women must have been remarkable, given the time and place. He treated them with an equality that was found lacking in this country until probably only 100 years ago.
I base my support for the Measure on my experience of growing up in the Church of England. As a child, I was required to go to church three times on a Sunday. By the time I had become a young woman, I felt that the Church had nothing to say to me at all. I felt excluded. In fact, I concluded that the Church would rather I arranged the flowers and sang nicely, because there seemed to be no other way of my influencing it.
When my children were growing up, I encouraged them to go to Sunday school and my daughter eventually took the same view as me. I believe that the Church has lost a great deal in making so many women feel the same. One of the most liberating aspects of the Church's decision was that for the first time in my lifetime I felt that the Church to which I was supposed to belong, but with which I have had little to do in my adult life, included me for the first time. It is all very well for some Conservative Members to say that they feel excluded. I have felt excluded for most of my life, but the Measure will exclude no one because, for the first time, the Church of England will be inclusive.
The Bible tells us that Christ was not a misogynist, but many people who purport to spread his doctrine certainly are. I give as an example the fact that, when my first child was born more than 30 years ago I was asked whether I was going to be "churched"—cleansed because of what had happened to me. I was outraged and am pleased that the Church has now cast aside its pagan attitude to women, but the attitude still survives. There has been talk about who should succeed the Bishop of Durham, and whether he takes a particular view on the ordination of women. I should like his successor to be succeeded by a woman.
I was pleased as a young woman to see on television a woman called Una Kroll speaking about the ordination of women. That is when I realised what was wrong and why I felt so alienated from the Church. I am pleased to be here to support and congratulate the people who have argued so patiently and persuasively for such a long time for the body of the Church to be universal.
My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms Short) referred to comments made by Archbishop Tutu. He said that if race was not a bar to the priesthood, gender should not be either. That must be right.
I am informed by the Bishop of Bristol that there is a large majority in favour of the Measure in the city. In a letter to me, he wrote:
"You will already appreciate the importance of this legislation to the Church and, indeed, its wider significance. In the Diocese of Bristol in which your constituency lies there was a 92 per cent. vote in favour of the legislation at our Diocesan Synod. There are thirty-seven women deacons awaiting to be priested as soon as the legislation is passed."
It is not within the gift or power of any Member of Parliament to deny those 37 women—and many others in the same position—the right to fulfil what, for them, is a
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vocation. If it is about anything, the Church should be about the true fellowship of humankind. I am proud to support the Measure.
1.30 pm
Rev. Ian Paisley: In 1927 and 1928, two historic debates were held in the House of Commons on the revised prayer book. In one sense, today's debate reflects those debates; in another sense, it flows from them. It may interest hon. Members to learn that I read three Roman Catholic newspapers every week and that I follow carefully statements made by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church.
During the controversy, Cardinal Hume made it clear in a statement that, although he did not like the controversy, it could be a way of securing his aim—the return of England to Rome, and the ending of the Church of England as a separate church. In 1928 a Scottish Member, Mr. Rosslyn Mitchell, reminded the House of the aim of the Church of Rome in this country, in the words of one Cardinal Manning.
Cardinal Manning said:
"It is good for us to be here in England. It is yours, right reverend fathers, to subjugate and subdue the mind and break the will of an imperial race, a will which, as the will of Rome of old, rules over nations and peoples, invincible and inflexible. It is the head of Protestantism, the centre of its movements and the stronghold of its power. Weakened in England, Protestantism is paralysed everywhere. Conquered in England, it is conquered throughout the world. Once overthrown here it is but a war of detail."—[Official Report, 13 June 1928; Vol. 218, c. 1126.] I find an echo of that in the words of Cardinal Hume.
In the same debate, a man with a strange name in that context—a Mr. Bridgeman—said that people viewed the Church of England as far too narrow for the religious life of the present generation. That view has been widely echoed in today's debate.
At the opening of the debate, the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) lodged a strong objection: he told the House that those who were not members of the Church of England should not dare to speak. Everyone knows that I am not a member of the Church of England; in fact, I belong to one of the "sects" referred to by the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) in loving, gracious and tender tones. It occurred to me that the right hon. Gentleman would make a very good Pope: he would be able to excommunicate all the other religious bodies, telling them that they were only sects. I wonder what the Church of Scotland thinks about having been relegated to that minor spiritual level. However, I happen to believe that it is the relationship of the human soul personally to Jesus Christ that settles eternal things, not the relationship of a human soul to any Church body, no matter what its claims may be.
The hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Stern) quoted partially what was said in that debate. Sir William Joynson-Hicks stressed the great importance of the House of Commons. He said:
"As long as the Church is established, the final right lies with Parliament. To-day, the final right lies with the Commons of England. In another place, there was a Division which disposed of the matter there, but the final appeal which the Protestants, the old-fashioned believers in the Church of England, make to-day is to this House of Commons. I am told that some hon. Members do not wish to vote in this matter because they are not members of the Church of England. I say to those Members: 'You are not sent here as Nonconformists, you are sent here as Members of Parliament. You have no right in, perhaps, the most difficult and dangerous vote that this House has ever given, to disfranchise

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your constituents.' Vote against me if you wish, vote for the new Prayer Book if you wish, but every member who comes to this House has a bounden duty to consider for himself the great issues which are put before him and to decide those issues in what he believes to be the interests of right and justice."—[Official Report, 17 December 1927; Vol. 211, c. 2550.]
I think that that is a basis on which we should have this debate. No matter what their views may be, whether they are believers or unbelievers, they should have the right to say.
The right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) said that no one at their election ever mentioned that. In my election I mentioned it and said that it was an issue. I said that it would be an issue that would be coming to the House of Commons. Needless to say, the people knew the attitude that I would adopt in such a debate as this.
Mr. Alison: Did my hon. Friend mention in his election address which way he would be voting at 2.30 pm on the Measures?
Rev. Ian Paisley: I must tell the right hon. Gentleman that it will be no surprise to him how I vote. Let him read how we voted in the Lobbies and he will see which way I voted. That will give him a little extra homework to do.
The hon. Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) spoke with great depth of feeling, naturally, and made a valid and important point. She said that the heart of this issue was the sacramental priesthood. Let us not allow anything to cover over that. The great divide comes 'when one believes in the sacramental priesthood or when one rejects it.
Some hon. Members spoke about figures in the Reformed Church. The Reformed Church is an amalgam of the Congregational Church and the Presbyterian Church in England. It does not have vicars. It has ministers. There is a distinction that must be drawn between the conception of a minister and the conception of a priest. No one will ever hear me claiming to be a priest. But for 47 years I have exercised a ministry right in the heart of Belfast. The priesthood, however, as envisaged by the hon. Lady, is the priesthood that has been seen in the Roman Catholic Church.
In canon 11 of the Council of Trent, Rome states:
"If any one shall say that in these words 'do this in remembrance of me', Christ did not appoint the apostles to be priests, or did not ordain that they and other priests should offer His body and blood, let him be accursed."
The Church of Rome anathematises those who do not hold to that sacramental priesthood. When a bishop of the Church of Rome ordains a person to the priesthood, he says:
"Receive thou power to offer sacrifice to God and to celebrate Masses both for the living and the dead."
The catechism of the Council of Trent further says:
"when the Bishop makes that offer to the person being ordained by these words he is committed to becoming a mediator between God and man."
That is the basis of the Roman Catholic priesthood as it is the basis of the Anglo-Catholic priesthood. I do not want to be unfair to them, but I take an entirely different view. I do not see anything about a sacrificing priest in the New Testament. I have never read in the New Testament that the Apostles or those whom they ordained to the gospel ministry ever made priests in such a ceremony.
The Bible also talks about the choosing of Apostles. I resent the suggestion that the Lord Jesus was afraid to go against the feelings of his day and therefore did not appoint one woman apostle. The Lord Jesus Christ was God
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incarnate. He was fearless and He was without sin. If He felt that the apostleship should have been shared by womenfolk, He would have set that in train and established that foundation for the ministry. He did not. As we know, when the apostle talked about ministers in the Christian Church he said that a minister had to be the husband of one wife. I do not understand how that can be transferred to the other gender. I believe that womenfolk have a place in the ministry of the Church, but it does not happen to be in that particular phase of gospel ministry.
I was rather amazed when the right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal said that the Church of England doctrines were contained in the three creeds. I wonder what he does about the 39 Articles. Does he completely jettison them? They have a lot to say about transubstantiation and about the Lord's supper. I shall not weary the House with all of them, but let me quote article 31. It is entitled:
"Of the one Oblation of Christ finished upon the Cross."
It says:
"The Offering of Christ once made is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction, for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin, but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifices of Masses in the which it was commonly said, that the Priest did offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, were blasphemous fables, and dangerous deceits."
That is not my language. That is the language of the Book of Common Prayer, which is opened every day in the House and from which we have our prayers. Here we have the divide, and it is a great divide.
A member said to me, "Will you be in the Pope's Lobby today?" I said to him, as I said some years ago when a Labour Member asked me the same question in a debate about abortion, "If the Pope wants to join my Lobby, he is very welcome."
Hon. Members have said today that the New Testament has nothing to say about the matter, but it has everything to say. The Lord Jesus Christ certainly elevated women and where the Christian message is heard women will be elevated, but the Bible states clearly that the man is the head of the woman and Christ is the head of the man. My right hon. Friend the Member for Selby (Mr. Alison) explained that away in a few sentences.
Mr. Gummer: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the occasion in which God showed his particular favour towards womanhood was when God chose Our Lady to be his mother, and that the position of the blessed Virgin Mary shows clearly the very particular way in which God and his Church have upheld womanhood down the ages?
Rev. Ian Paisley: I find it difficult to follow the right hon. Gentleman, for God had no other way in which he would bring about the incarnation because it was based on a promise:
"The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head."
I entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman, however, that my saviour is Virgin-born, and certainly God chose the Virgin to be the mother of Our Lord's flesh. That is revealed in the Word of God, which I accept.
Let me return to the subject of authority. The authority, to me, is the Holy Scripture and there is specific teaching in the Holy Scripture that cannot be argued away about these matters. If I am to accept one part of the 39 Articles, which I do, I must accept the other part about the authority of Holy Scripture. The authority of Holy Scripture is above

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councils, above Synods, above Parliament and above every other authority. The scriptures alone bear the Word of God and they should be heeded and harkened to.
This is a solemn day for the House. Changes in the national Church are serious for everyone, not only members of the Church of England. The spiritual life of the nation has to a degree been held together by the cement of an established Church.
The Presbyterian Church in Scotland is an established Church. The Scottish Presbyterians learnt the bitterness of royal rule over them in the crusade of the covenanters and the reformers. They came to the conclusion that, although they could be established, they would not brook any state interference.
The Church of England has a different set-up. Henry VIII was mentioned today. I do not think that he was a Protestant. I believe that he continued to be a Roman Catholic to the end, but he thought that he would be a better Pope than the Pope so he de-poped the Pope and took the Pope's job. That does not mean that he set the basis for the Church of England.
Thomas Cranmer was mentioned today and it was said that if he had received a cheque he might have reneged. He certainly would not, because Thomas Cranmer was prepared to die for what he believed. The prayer book largely owes itself to the work of Thomas Cranmer.
Before we touch eternal truths that refer to the spirituality of our nation we need to be careful. I read carefully the "red book", as I call it. I read what the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack) said. He asked the bishop, "Does eternal truth change?", and I was appalled at the answer. According to that bishop, it can change on every occasion. The bishop was confronted by the hon. Gentleman about the fact that it was said when a deaconess was ordained in the Church that it would go no farther, yet now they are going to have women as priests. They say that there will never be a woman bishop, but we all know that there will be if they go on.
However, other things worry me far more, for example, the fact that the Bishop of Durham denies every tenet of the gospel and everything that is in the Bible, yet he is supposed to chase false doctrine away from his diocese. He is the greatest propagator of false doctrine. That is the sort of thing that should concern legislators. Whatever any hon. Member says, the fact that people in this country have the opportunity to go and listen to the Word of God will help us to get over our difficulties. It is an anchor of the soul. I trust that, even out of all this controversy, He, who can make the wrath of man to praise Him and the remainder of that wrath restrain, will prevail and that all things will work together for good to those who love God.
1.50 pm
Mr. Roger Sims: When the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) rose to his feet, we anticipated that he would approach the issues and discussion from his own unique angle and he did not disappoint us.
My son's wedding was the highlight of my summer recess. When discussing it a few weeks beforehand with my bishop, I commented that my niece would be marrying my son, which caused raised eyebrows until I explained that my niece is a deacon of the Church and would be
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performing the ceremony. I need hardly say that she did it very well. It was a very happy occasion and I look forward to attending her ordination as a priest in the Church before many months elapse. Incidentally, Opposition Members will be interested to know that the wedding took place in Tolpuddle and that my daughter-in-law comes from the Loveless family.
The House will, therefore, not be surprised where my sympathies lie, and they are confirmed by the voting record of the Ecclesiastical Committee, of which I have been a member for some years.
As the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) said, the Committee has not gone through any Measure more thoroughly than the Measures that we are discussing today. Usually, we spend one or two meetings discussing the Measures that come to us from Synod. We met no fewer than 11 times to discuss these Measures, including a full conference between our Committee and the legislative committee of Synod. As has been said, the Synod representatives included two people who were against the Measure, as well as those who had promoted it. The Committee concluded, by a clear majority, that both of the Measures are expedient—an expression used to show that we recommend to both Houses that they be approved.
On the theological issues, the Committee took the view that it was not for us as a body to pass judgment. Personally, I am not persuaded that there is any theological objection to the ordination of women. One of the weakest arguments that I have heard against their ordination is the Apostolic succession which, it is alleged, would be broken by women's ordination. That succession is defined as
"an uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority, through a succession of bishops from the apostles downwards."
In other words, the Apostles ordained others, who became bishops and in turn carried out ordinations, and so on until the present day. I fully understand that, but I do not understand why spiritual authority can pass on when a bishop lays his hands upon a man's head but not if he lays his hands on a woman's head. I put that question to one of the bishops who had expressed opposition to these Measures. I was not surprised when I received no response.
It can be argued, as it has been by the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay), that it is not a matter for Parliament, but we know that, for historical reasons, as the law stands, it is a matter for Parliament. Our task is to satisfy ourselves on three issues.
First, does the Church want the Measures? The fact that it does is clearly shown by the vote of the General Synod and by support for the Measures throughout the country. That support is clearly tabulated on page 20 of the Ecclesiastical Committee report, which lists the votes in the various diocese.
Secondly, are there any practical objections to the ordination of women? Clearly, there are none. It can be argued that there are some jobs, for example, those of police officers, where in certain circumstances, a woman is not ideally equipped to deal with all the situations that may arise. However, that is not the case with women priests. There have been women deaconesses for many years—for some years, there have been deacons—and their qualities have proved ideal for the job. They are particularly suited to pastoral work.
Thirdly, are the concerns of the minority who take a different view adequately protected? That question has naturally taken up much of the Ecclesiastical Committee's

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time and of today's debate. I venture to suggest that the position of bishops who do not want to ordain women priests and of those parishes that may object to having women priests is fully covered in the provisions, in the two Manchester statements and in the proposed Act of Synod.
The Committee certainly satisfied itself that the Measures include appropriate safeguards and financial provisions for those clergy and lay people who feel unable to remain in the Church of England. The provisions were carefully analysed. It is fair to say that while some felt that the financial provision was inadequate, others felt that it was over-generous, particularly given the Church of England's financial state. I believe that the balance is about right. It is my fervent hope that those provisions will be little used.
The Measures are not about splitting the Church; they are about enriching it. The Church is not a body separate from the rest of the community—it is part of it. It is possible to maintain the eternal truths on which the Church is founded—truths to which my hon. Friends, including my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer), have referred—while adapting its structures and practices to reflect the influences and climate in which it exists. The role of women in our society is different, as the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Hardy) said, from when the Church was founded and from only a few decades ago. I do not believe that the Measures are the product of some sort of militant feminism, with which some are seeking to associate them.
The Measures are a recognition of the increasing momentum towards sex equality in society generally. That equality has already been gained in a number of spheres, including this place, certainly in quality and achievement, if not yet in numbers. The Measures are also a recognition that women have very much to offer to the priesthood. Nor is it right to link the issue with certain trends in the Church, which have led to its ambivalent attitudes towards homosexuality and its incongruous recognition of gay priests, which I find a contradiction in terms.
The Measures stand on their own merits. They have support in the majority of what might be called the active Church and among those who simply call themselves Church of England, and whose church attendance may be sporadic. I do not deny that endorsing the Measures will cause pain to some, but failure to do so will cause pain to many more.
I hope that the House and the other place will support the Measures and will endorse the final paragraph of the Ecclesiastical Committee report. The hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey quoted it, so I shall repeat only the final sentence which states:
"It is the fervent hope of the whole Committee that unity will be preserved."
Perhaps the appropriate words to add are "Amen to that".
2 pm
Ms Glenda Jackson: I think that I am an agnostic. I know that I deeply believe in a spiritual energy which finds its expression in many ways. There is no limit via gender to the expression of that spiritual energy in every aspect of our national life. Although I think that I am an agnostic, I am privileged to represent a constituency in which many people are absolutely clear about their passionate commitment to practice within the Church of England.
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Well before this issue came to the House, I received from men and women, from laity and clergy, by letter, by telephone, by being stopped in the street and by a lobby tin this place, an expression of the desire of my constituents to assure and reassure themselves that when the issue eventually came to the House I would vote for the ordination of women.
I was somewhat surprised that my constituents were not aware of my passionate and spiritual commitment to equality for women in every aspect of our national life.
The debate has been of a remarkably high quality, although I found it rather odd that those hon. Members who oppose the ordination of women tend to be opposed because, for example, a woman cannot be a father. The hon. Member for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack), who said that, did not say that a man cannot be a mother. The harsh realities of life in these islands are that 1–5 million women have to be both father and mother to their children.
The central issue is who is privileged to hear the voice of God? Who is privileged to have delivered to him or her a call from the Supreme Being? I find utterly unacceptable the idea that the Supreme Being speaks exclusively to those of the male gender. For a long time, many women have patiently remained in the Church of England and have never threatened to leave it if they could not be ordained. They have completely acknowledged that that burden was part of their spiritual progress towards responding in full to the voice of God. Excluding the issue of equal rights for women, that is the strongest possible argument and it concentrates on the spiritual and theological dimensions of the matter. That is why I shall vote in favour of ordination for women and why I urge all hon. Members to do the same. God has called upon those women and no one in the House or outside has any right to deny their response to the Supreme Being's call.
2.3 pm
Mr. David Atkinson: As a Roman Catholic, I hesitated somewhat before taking part in the debate. However, having listened to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley), I do so with less hesitation. He will not be surprised to learn that, like my Church, I oppose the ordination of women. In addition to the more sophisticated theological arguments, I hold the view, however simplistic, that if our Lord had meant there to be women priests—and certainly women bishops will follow—he would have chosen women to be among his Apostles and would have invited them to participate in the last supper to celebrate the first Holy Communion.
Of course, his women disciples were present at the foot of the cross, but the roles of Mary his mother, of the other Mary, of Martha and of his other women disciples, although important, were also different. So were the roles of those women who held important positions in the early Christian Church, so many of whom were martyred. Women have never been precluded from very full and fulfilling positions in the Christian Church.
There are three reasons why I oppose the Measures. They have been influenced by my meetings with local Anglican clergy, whose clear distress in wrestling with their consciences in trying to respond positively to the Measures concerns me greatly. First, it appears that the overwhelming consensus for the Measures claimed by Archbishop Carey is far from true at the grassroots of his Church. I understand that in the voting in the deanery

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synods, a two thirds majority was achieved in only 300 deaneries—it failed to reach two thirds in 424. If true, that is hardly a consensus for such an important change in doctrine that it requires this Parliament to approve it. It is certainly not the two thirds majority in the Church as a whole claimed by the General Synod.
Secondly, as the Measures stand, there will be an undoubted split in the Church, but that can be avoided if they are amended to include a more protective conscience clause. I am appalled to learn of the attitude being taken by some, including bishops, towards those clergy known to be opposed to the Measures. Apparently, there is rarely any practical chance of promotion for them. In my area, 40 priests covering 30 parishes have told their bishop that they can no longer look to him as their father in God. They have formed their own chapter, which meets regularly. I find that very sad.
Finally, I oppose the Measures because they will undoubtedly delay, perhaps even prevent, the ultimate unification of the Catholic Churches in this country. They will encourage Anglican clergy, as well as laity, to seek integration in the Roman Catholic Church, but it will be for the wrong reason. I want both Churches to be reconciled as the result of a successful outcome of the ecumenical process at the top of those Churches, not through disillusionment at the bottom of one of them.
I hope that the Measures will be defeated today. I hope that the General Synod will think again. It remains a challenge to both Catholic Churches in this country to find ways to develop the ministry of women in this modern world, but it does not lie in the priesthood.
2.7 pm
Mr. Michael Bates: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this historic debate, to which I have listened with interest. Many people have said that, perhaps, it is not the responsibility and role of this place to debate such issues. I profoundly disagree with them and I suggest to those hon. Members who have participated in and sat through the debate that that view will be proved wrong. This has been one of the most edifying and uplifting debates in which it has been my privilege to participate during my brief time in the House. From time to time, it is a good thing, even in this House, to consider matters spiritual as well as temporal, and that we have done.
I am sure that many people at this time have great anxiety about the ordination of women to the priesthood. I am a believer in the sacramental priesthood and I have no problem squaring that with my belief that women should be part of the priesthood. The emancipation of women in this country has brought great variety and different strengths to our society and has been a great success. It should have been introduced here some time ago.
There will be friction and division. My right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) kindly alluded to his background in the Free Church as being part of a sect. I, too, have a background of growing up as a member of a small Evangelical Church. One difference that I notice as a member now of the Anglican community, of which I am very proud, is that at least the Anglican Church divides over matters of substance, such as the ordination of women and transubstantiation. In my
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previous Free Church capacity, we divided over matters such as whether women should wear hats and whether the organ should be played to accompany hymns.
It is essential to focus on the issue of where authority is vested. Some believe that it is vested in the structures here on earth. That is not true. As we know from Matthew, chapter 28, verse 18, Jesus said:
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
Therefore, we believe passionately that all authority is vested in Jesus Christ. We try to dilute that authority in to our human structures at our peril. That is the central plank of our belief. That passage from Matthew is from the great commission, and in it Jesus tells his disciples what is their role on earth. It serves as a warning, because the threat of division in the Church is real.
The Church of England is taking part in a decade of envangelism. It would be tragic if this great decade, which is fulfilling the mission and great commission set out so clearly in the Bible in the context of authority, were to be diluted by the effects of any division. I urge archbishops, bishops and individuals to make every effort at reconciliation, so that their great mission in this decade will not be diluted in the slightest.
Inconsistencies remain. If one believes that women can be baptised into the Church of England and be ordained into the priesthood, as we do, a division remains in the sense that women may not become bishops. We have been told that that matter will be dealt with at some future time —but if one accepts that women should be ordained into the priesthood, the entire structure of the Church of England should be open to them. That aspect should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
I am honoured by the opportunity to speak in this debate. It has proved how reflective the House is of the views of the public. The contributions made were broadly in line with views expressed in three houses of the Synod and by many of my constituents.
2.13 pm
Mr. Alison: The time is slipping away and it would be a courtesy to the House, in view of the large number of speeches made in the debate, if I were to attempt to make one or two comments in response.
In the light of the enormous constituency interests represented by the Measures, the House must be glad that so many right hon. and hon. Members found it worth while to attend on a Friday, without any Whip, to contribute so eloquently and passionately. Many old hands will recall debates of earth-shattering national or international importance attended by only two or three Back Benchers on each side of the House, a Minister, a Whip and a few others on the Front Benches. For today's debate on an eternal theme there was only a one-line Whip, yet right hon. and hon. Members are present in large numbers to argue the case—if only that we should not be here arguing the case. That paradox always arises in such debates.
I should like to address first the significant points which the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) raised about the compensation provisions. I want to counter the suggestion that the financial provisions Measure and the financial assistance that it seeks to introduce are in some way niggardly, grudging or limited. They are not. They are specifically tailor-made to help as many people as possible who might suffer financial hardship as a result of their personal and private decision to resign from their official position in the Church of England.

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The provisions in the financial assistance Measure are unique in the Anglican communion where, as the Opposition spokesman, the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms Short) said, women priests have already been readily accepted. Those priests were accepted, however, without the benefit of the financial provisions that we are seeking to introduce.
The financial assistance takes the form of substantial housing grants, a large resettlement lump sum and regular payments that could last for as long as 10 years in certain circumstances. They are markedly more generous than secular compensation figures.
If hon. Members refer to paragraph 13 on page 49 of our Red Book, they will see that had we tried to introduce something comparable to the unfair dismissal terms that are provided for under secular law, the basic and compensatory awards
"would not exceed, in a typical case, one year's stipend (or some £12,000). This, it will be seen, is less than one-third of the value of benefits available under the Measure."
The terms offered under our voluntary scheme are way ahead of anything that is available in the secular sphere.
Mr. Roger Evans: In the secular sphere if one has an employment contract for life up to the age of 72, which is the equivalent of a freehold incumbency, full compensation would be much greater. Is that not the appropriate comparison?
Mr. Alison: I always think that my hon. Friend would have made a formidable advocate if we had sought to include in the Measure tight and detailed provisions for particular circumstances, individuals and categories. I could just imagine hearing my hon. Friend arguing his case before a judge and trying to get the last squeeze out of the compensation lemon.
It is precisely because we do not believe that we should introduce such a watertight, technical compensation package that we have gone for the broad-brush approach in an attempt to help people in different circumstances. That is why the compensation provisions have not been spelt out as definitively as my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Miss Widdecombe) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) would have wished.
I will remind the House of the reason why we have made two separate provisions in the compensation Measure, a standard scheme and a discretionary scheme, the latter under clause 5. The schemes are entirely designed to try to maximise the scope for inclusiveness. Many variations will occur in individual circumstances, even under the tailor-made scheme for incumbents. However, there will be so many variations of the sort that my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone referred to in her illustrative example of a missionary with 30 years service abroad, so it will be much better to have a discretionary scheme alongside the model scheme.
Hon. Members will not have failed to notice that the standard scheme makes provision for application for those who are included under the standard scheme for application to the compensatory scheme. Those in the standard scheme can have that topped up with further discretion. That means that the discretionary scheme will be able to offer more than the model scheme.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr. Alison: I feel that, because of the limit on time, I shall give way to the hon. Member for Birkenhead, who first raised the matter. I shall also give way—for fear of the wrath of womanhood—to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster (Dame E. Kellett-Bowman).
Mr. Frank Field rose—
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order. I clearly heard the hon. Gentleman say that he would give way to the hon. Lady. I am sorry if he has changed his mind, but will he clarify to whom he is giving way?
Mr. Alison: I am sorry if there has been some indecision. I will give way to my female colleague first, and then to the hon. Gentleman.
Dame Elaine Kellett-BowmanIs not it correct that if the report simply included those who had been ordained many cases would be covered?
Mr. Alison: It is not confined to those who have been ordained. There will be individuals and lay people in organisations outside the parochial ministry. The scheme will also apply to those who are ordained in those extra-parochial ministries and to those fixed in the full model scheme. There will be interplay between both structures so that the maximum amount—a generous amount, far exceeding the compensation available in secular schemes—can be offered to those who are suffering real hardship. It is a good scheme for those suffering real hardship.
Mr. Frank Field: The concern of those who have raised the issue of compensation has not been whether people will gain the basic compensation plus top-up payments, but whether some people will be excluded altogether.
I wish to put a question to the right hon. Gentleman that may determine how some of us vote, although not on the major motion. He has given a number of examples of people who will not be covered by any statutory entitlement. Does he expect those examples which were cited in the debate to gain compensation under the discretionary proposals which he has described?
Mr. Alison: I am glad that the hon. Gentleman has made clear to me—I hope I have got it right—that he is worried that the discretionary scheme may exclude certain categories or individuals. That does not mean that they will not get enough money if they manage to get into the scheme, but rather that their particular category will not fit in with the discretionary scheme.
I can reassure the hon. Gentleman on the matter. The report mentions on page 35, for example,
"missionaries serving abroad, forces chaplains, school and college chaplains and lay employees of organisations in which membership of the Church of England is a condition of employment."
I can assure my right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal that the individuals about whom he is concerned will undoubtedly secure financial assistance under the discretionary scheme. The same applies to the case that was made by my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone.
Several hon. Members rose—
Mr. Alison: I must press on, as I have only six minutes before we reach the end of the debate.

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I will pursue the point made by the hon. Member for Birkenhead. If we had tried to make an exhaustive list of those who might be eligible under the discretionary scheme, it would have run into several pages of schedule and would almost certainly still leave out someone whom it was necessary to include.
Mr. Cormack: Cannot my right hon. Friend accept that what we are asking is that the provision should state that clerks in holy orders are eligible—not may be eligible or may apply for, but will be eligible—to receive a sum not specified? Should not the provision apply to all ordained clerks?
Mr. Alison: That is implied in the statement on page 35 of our report, which not only refers to missionaries, school chaplains and others who are ordained but goes wider, to include laymen. I cannot see what other category or group of individuals—either lay people or non-lay people—one could possibly include without extending the provision to, for example, the animal liberation movement. One can only be ordained or non-ordained and people in both categories will be eligible for discretionary help.
Mr. Gummer: If it is true that every clerk in holy orders will have the same eligibility as those who are eligible at the moment, why will not the Church say that in the legislation, and go on to say that there are other categories to which it will extend discretion? Does not my right hon. Friend understand that there is a suspicion—I do not want to use the word, but I must—that every time the matter is pressed, the Church refuses to say what we all believe it ought to mean if the discretion is to be extended to all those people?
Mr. Alison: My right hon. Friend seeks a special discriminatory selection of or emphasis on the ordained ministry as such. Why should it be necessary to highlight the ordained ministry given that its members are automatically highlighted by the standard scheme, which can apply only to incumbents? Why should it be necessary to mention both the ordained and the non-ordained in connection with the discretionary scheme? The essential aim is to make the provisions as inclusive as possible and that inclusiveness is secured by the discretionary element, especially in the light of the categories that have been spelt out.
I remind the House that, in that context, votes in the General Synod—from the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy and the House of Laity—were very nearly 100 per cent. in support of the whole of the financial provision Measure. The House of Clergy, in particular, felt that the kind of assistance that we are anxious to secure was properly and fully available.
The financial assistance scheme is a generous one by Anglican standards and an extremely generous one by the secular standards applying to our communities.
My right hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal expressed his anxiety about the future of the Church of England, as did my hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South (Mr. Cormack). My right hon. Friend made the point that we have no authority to make fundamental changes such as this. The hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) referred to the 39 Articles and I felt that it was somewhat disingenuous of my right
1148
hon. Friend the Member for Suffolk, Coastal—I do not mean to be insulting to him—to refer to the changes that we propose in the Measures while overlooking the changes that were made in the 15th and 16th centuries in the 39 Articles, including the repudiation of transubstantiation, the repudiation of clerical celibacy and the reduction in the number of sacrements from seven to two, all of which were fundamental. My hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire, South was especially anxious that the broad base of the Church of England includes as many people as possible and should not be undermined by what we are discussing today. I refer especially to paragraph 3 on page 24 of the report that he joined me in publishing. It says that we hope to
"enter a process in which it is desirable that both those in favour and those opposed should be recognised as holding legitimate positions".
I cannot think of a more comprehensive or promising statement than that made by the bishops at the Manchester gathering in June.
It being half-past Two o'clock, MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER put the Question, pursuant to Order [22 October]:
The House divided: Ayes 215, Noes 21.

Division No. 376]

[2.30 pm

AYES

Abbott, Ms Diane

Coffey, Ann

Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE)

Cohen, Harry

Alexander, Richard

Colvin, Michael

Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby)

Cope, Rt Hon Sir John

Allen, Graham

Corbyn, Jeremy

Anderson, Donald (Swansea E)

Corston, Ms Jean

Anderson, Ms Janet (Ros'dale)

Couchman, James

Arbuthnot, James

Cousins, Jim

Armstrong, Hilary

Cryer, Bob

Ashby, David

Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE)

Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy

Currie, Mrs Edwina (S D'by'ire)

Atkinson, Peter (Hexham)

Curry, David (Skipton & Ripon)

Austin-Walker, John

Davies, Quentin (Stamford)

Baker, Nicholas (Dorset North)

Davies, Ron (Caerphilly)

Baldry, Tony

Davis, Terry (B'ham, H'dge H'I)

Banks, Matthew (Southport)

Denham, John

Banks, Robert (Harrogate)

Dobson, Frank

Banks, Tony (Newham NW)

Dowd, Jim

Barnes, Harry

Durant, Sir Anthony

Barren, Kevin

Dykes, Hugh

Bates, Michael

Eagle, Ms Angela

Battle, John

Enright, Derek

Bayley, Hugh

Evennett, David

Beith, Rt Hon A. J.

Fenner, Dame Peggy

Benn, Rt Hon Tony

Field, Frank (Birkenhead)

Bennett, Andrew F.

Fisher, Mark

Benton, Joe

Foster, Rt Hon Derek

Bermingham, Gerald

Foster, Don (Bath)

Berry, Dr. Roger

Fox, Dr Liam (Woodspring)

Betts, Clive

Fox, Sir Marcus (Shipley)

Boateng, Paul

Fraser, John

Boswell, Tim

Freeman, Rt Hon Roger

Bottomley, Peter (Eltham)

Gale, Roger

Boyce, Jimmy

Gapes, Mike

Brooke, Rt Hon Peter

Garrett, John

Brown, M. (Brigg & Cl'thorpes)

George, Bruce

Brown, N. (N'c'tle upon Tyne E)

Gerrard, Neil

Browning, Mrs. Angela

Godman, Dr Norman A.

Burt, Alistair

Golding, Mrs Llin

Butler, Peter

Gordon, Mildred

Byers, Stephen

Gorman, Mrs Teresa

Campbell-Savours, D. N.

Gorst, John

Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)

Greenway, Harry (Eating N)

Chapman, Sydney

Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)

Clapham, Michael

Gunnell, John

Clappison, James

Hall, Mike

Clark, Dr David (South Shields)

Hanley, Jeremy

Clarke, Tom (Monklands W)

Hannam, Sir John

Clwyd, Mrs Ann

Hardy, Peter

1149

Harman, Ms Harriet

O'Brien, Michael (N W'kshire)

Harris, David

O'Hara, Edward

Harvey, Nick

Olner, William

Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy

Ottaway, Richard

Heald, Oliver

Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey

Heppell, John

Pendry, Tom

Higgins, Rt Hon Sir Terence L.

Pickthall, Colin

Hill, Keith (Streatham)

Pope, Greg

Hoey, Kate

Powell, Ray (Ogmore)

Hordem, Rt Hon Sir Peter

Prentice, Ms Bridget (Lew'm E)

Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N)

Prentice, Gordon (Pendle)

Hughes, Simon (Southwark)

Primarolo, Dawn

Hunt, Rt Hon David (Wirral W)

Quin, Ms Joyce

Hutton, John

Randall, Stuart

Illsley, Eric

Raynsford, Nick

Jackson, Glenda (H'stead)

Renton, Rt Hon Tim

Jackson, Helen (Shef'ld, H)

Roche, Mrs. Barbara

Johnston, Sir Russell

Rowe, Andrew (Mid Kent)

Jones. Martyn (Clwyd, SW)

Ruddock, Joan

Jowell, Tessa

Rumbold, Rt Hon Dame Angela

Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

Sainsbury, Rt Hon Tim

Kennedy, Jane (Lpool Brdgn)

Scott, Rt Hon Nicholas

Key, Robert

Sedgemore, Brian

Kilfedder, Sir James

Shephard, Rt Hon Gillian

Kilfoyle, Peter

Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)

Knapman, Roger

Shore, Rt Hon Peter

Knox, Sir David

Short, Clare

Lait, Mrs Jacqui

Simpson, Alan

Leighton, Ron

Skinner, Dennis

Lester, Jim (Broxtowe)

Smith, Andrew (Oxford E)

Lidington, David

Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield)

Lilley, Rt Hon Peter

Soley, Clive

Livingstone, Ken

Spearing, Nigel

Lloyd, Tony (Stratford)

Spellar, John

Luff, Peter

Spicer, Michael (S Worcs)

Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas

Steen, Anthony

MacGregor, Rt Hon John

Stern, Michael

Mackinlay, Andrew

Streeter, Gary

Me William, John

Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)

Madden, Max

Taylor, Rt Hon John D. (Strgfd)

Maddock, Mrs Diana

Temple-Morris, Peter

Mahon, Alice

Thomason, Roy

Malone, Gerald

Tipping, Paddy

Marshall, Jim (Leicester, S)

Tyler, Paul

Marshall, John (Hendon S)

Walker, Rt Hon Sir Harold

Martlew, Eric

Waller, Gary

Meacher, Michael

Walley, Joan

Meale, Alan

Ward, John

Mellor, Rt Hon David

Wicks, Malcolm

Michael, Alun

Wilkinson, John

Miller, Andrew

Wilshire, David

Milligan, Stephen

Winnick, David

Mitchell, Austin (Gt Grimsby)

Wise, Audrey

Morley, Elliot

Wolfson, Mark

Morris, Estelle (B'ham Yardley)

Yeo, Tim

Mowlam, Marjorie

Young, Rt Hon Sir George

Mudie, George

Mullin, Chris

Tellers for the Ayes:

Newton, Rt Hon Tony

Mr. David Madel and

Nicholson, Emma (Devon West)

Mr. Roger Sims.

Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon

NOES

Atkinson, David (Bour'mouth E)

Neubert, Sir Michael

Bowden, Andrew

Paisley, Rev Ian

Carlisle, John (Luton North)

Robinson, Peter (Belfast E)

Channon, Rt Hon Paul

Ross, William (E Londonderry)

Cormack, Patrick

Waterson, Nigel

Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn

Widdecombe, Ann

Hunter, Andrew

Wiggin, Sir Jerry

Jones, Robert B. (W Hertfdshr)

Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton)

Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine

Kirkhope, Timothy

Tellers for the Noes:

Leigh, Edward

Mr. Michael Trend and

Merchant, Piers

Mr. Roger Evans.

Nelson, Anthony

Question accordingly agreed to.
Resolved,
That the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure, passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament.
Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Order [22 October],
That the Ordination of Women (Financial Provisions) Measure, passed by the General Synod of the Church of England, be presented to Her Majesty for her Royal Assent in the form in which the said Measure was laid before Parliament.—[Mr. Alison.]
The House divided: Ayes 195, Noes 19.

Division No. 377]

[2.41 pm

AYES

Abbott, Ms Diane

Durant, Sir Anthony

Alexander, Richard

Eagle, Ms Angela

Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby)

Enright, Derek

Allen, Graham

Evennett, David

Anderson, Donald (Swansea E)

Fenner, Dame Peggy

Anderson, Ms Janet (Ros'dale)

Fisher, Mark

Arbuthnot, James

Foster, Rt Hon Derek

Armstrong, Hilary

Foster, Don (Bath)

Ashby, David

Fraser, John

Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy

Freeman, Rt Hon Roger

Atkinson, Peter (Hexham)

Gale, Roger

Austin-Walker, John

Gapes, Mike

Baker, Nicholas (Dorset North)

Garrett, John

Banks, Matthew (Southport)

George, Bruce

Banks, Robert (Harrogate)

Gerrard, Neil

Banks, Tony (Newham NW)

Godman, Dr Norman A.

Barnes, Harry

Golding, Mrs Llin

Barron, Kevin

Gordon, Mildred

Bates, Michael

Gorman, Mrs Teresa

Battle, John

Gorst, John

Bayley, Hugh

Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)

Beith, Rt Hon A. J.

Gunnell, John

Benn, Rt Hon Tony

Hall, Mike

Bennett, Andrew F.

Hanley, Jeremy

Benton, Joe

Hardy, Peter

Bermingham, Gerald

Harman, Ms Harriet

Betts, Clive

Harvey, Nick

Boateng, Paul

Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy

Boswell, Tim

Heald, Oliver

Bottomley, Peter (Eltham)

Heppell, John

Boyce, Jimmy

Higgins, Rt Hon Sir Terence L.

Brooke, Rt Hon Peter

Hill, Keith (Streatham)

Brown, M. (Brigg & Cl'thorpes)

Hoey, Kate

Brown, N. (N'c'tle upon Tyne E)

Hordern, Rt Hon Sir Peter

Browning, Mrs. Angela

Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N)

Burt, Alistair

Hughes, Simon (Southwark)

Butler, Peter

Hutton, John

Byers, Stephen

Illsley, Eric

Campbell-Savours, D. N.

Jackson, Glenda (H'stead)

Carlisle, Kenneth (Lincoln)

Jackson, Helen (Shef'ld, H)

Chapman, Sydney

Johnston, Sir Russell

Clapham, Michael

Jones, Martyn (Clwyd, SW)

Clappison, James

Jowell, Tessa

Clark, Dr David (South Shields)

Kaufman, Rt Hon Gerald

Clarke, Tom (Monklands W)

Kennedy, Jane (Lpool Brdgn)

Clwyd, Mrs Ann

Key, Robert

Coffey, Ann

Kilfedder, Sir James

Cohen, Harry

Kilfoyle, Peter

Colvin, Michael

Knox, Sir David

Cope, Rt Hon Sir John

Lait, Mrs Jacqui

Corbyn, Jeremy

Leighton, Ron

Corston, Ms Jean

Lester, Jim (Broxtowe)

Couchman, James

Lidington, David

Cousins, Jim

Lilley, Rt Hon Peter

Cryer, Bob

Livingstone, Ken

Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE)

Lloyd, Tony (Stretford)

Currie, Mrs Edwina (S D'by'ire)

Luff, Peter

Curry, David (Skipton & Ripon)

Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas

Davis, Terry (B'ham, H'dge H'l)

MacGregor, Rt Hon John

Denham, John

Mackinlay, Andrew

Dobson, Frank

Madden, Max

Dowd, Jim

Maddock, Mrs Diana

1151

Mahon, Alice

Sainsbury, Rt Hon Tim

Malone, Gerald

Scott, Rt Hon Nicholas

Marshall, John (Hendon S)

Sedgemore, Brian

Martlew, Eric

Shepherd, Colin (Hereford)

Meacher, Michael

Shore, Rt Hon Peter

Meale, Alan

Short, Clare

Michael, Alun

Simpson, Alan

Miller, Andrew

Skinner, Dennis

Milligan, Stephen

Smith, Andrew (Oxford E)

Mitchell, Austin (Gt Grimsby)

Smith, Tim (Beaconsfield)

Morley, Elliot

Soley, Clive

Morris, Estelle (B'ham Yardley)

Spearing, Nigel

Mowlam, Marjorie

Steen, Anthony

Mudie, George

Stern, Michael

Mullin, Chris

Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)

Newton, Rt Hon Tony

Taylor, Rt Hon John D. (Strgfd)

Nicholson, Emma (Devon West)

Temple-Morris, Peter

Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon

Thomason, Roy

O'Brien, Michael (N W'kshire)

Tipping, Paddy

O'Hara, Edward

Trend, Michael

Olner, William

Tyler, Paul

Ottaway, Richard

Walker, Rt Hon Sir Harold

Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey

Waller, Gary

Pendry, Tom

Walley, Joan

Pickthall, Colin

Ward, John

Pope, Greg

Wicks, Malcolm

Powell, Ray (Ogmore)

Wilkinson, John

Prentice, Ms Bridget (Lew'm E)

Wilshire, David

Prentice, Gordon (Pendle)

Winnick, David

Primarolo, Dawn

Wise, Audrey

Quin, Ms Joyce

Wood, Timothy

Randall, Stuart

Yeo, Tim

Raynsford, Nick

Young, Rt Hon Sir George

Renton, Rt Hon Tim

Roche, Mrs. Barbara

Tellers for the Ayes:

Rowe, Andrew (Mid Kent)

Mr. David Madel and

Ruddock, Joan

Mr. Roger Sims.

Rumbold, Rt Hon Dame Angela

NOES

Bowden, Andrew

Merchant, Piers

Channon, Rt Hon Paul

Nelson, Anthony

Cormack, Patrick

Neubert, Sir Michael

Field, Frank (Birkenhead)

Paisley, Rev Ian

Greenway, Harry (Ealing N)

Robinson, Peter (Belfast E)

Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn

Ross, William (E Londonderry)

Hunter, Andrew

Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton)

Jones, Robert B. (W Hertfdshr)

Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine

Tellers for the Noes:

Kirkhope, Timothy

Miss Ann Widdecombe and

Knapman, Roger

Mr. Roger Evans.

Leigh, Edward

Question accordingly agreed to.

CONSOLIDATION, &c., BILLS
Ordered,
That, in respect of the Crofters (Scotland) Bill [Lords], the Health Service Commissioners Bill [Lords], the Pension Schemes Bill [Lords], the Pension Schemes (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords], the Probation Service Bill [Lords], the Scottish Land Court Bill [Lords] and the Statute Law (Repeals) Bill
1152
[Lords], notices of Amendments, new Clauses and new Schedules to be moved in Committee may be accepted by the Clerks at the Table before the Bills have been read a second time. —[Mr. Arbuthnot.]

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Morris): With the leave of the House, I shall put motions Nos. 4 to 6 together.
Ordered,
That, at the sitting on Wednesday 3rd November, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 15 (Prayers against statutory instruments &c. (negative procedure)), the Speaker shall not later than Ten o'clock put the Question necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motions in the name of Mr. John Smith relating to Sports Grounds and Sporting Events, namely the Question already proposed from the Chair.
That, at the sitting on Wednesday 3rd November, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 14 (Exempted business), the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motions in the name of Mr. Tony Newton relating to Members' Salaries and to the Ministerial and other Salaries Order not later than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the first such Motion; such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments to those Motions which she may have been selected and which had not been moved by that hour; and the said Motions may be entered upon and proceed with after the expiry of the time for opposed business.—[Mr. Arbuthnot.]
That, at the sitting on Thursday 4th November, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 14 (Exempted business), the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on:

(a) the Motions in the name of Mr Tony Newton relating to Members' Pensions not later than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the first such Motion;

(b) the Motions in the name of Mr Tony Newton relating to Parliamentary Questions and Notices of Questions not later than one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the first such Motion; and

(c) the motion in the name of Mr Tony Newton relating to Financial Assistance to Opposition Parties not later than one and a half hours after their commencement;

including the Questions on any Amendments to the said Motions which she may have selected and which had not been moved by those respective hours; and the said Motions may be proceeded with after the expiry of the time for opposed business.—[Mr. Arbuthnot.]

MEMBERS' INTERESTS
Ordered,
That Mr Peter Viggers be discharged from the Select Committee on Members' Interests and Sir Anthony Durant be added to the Committee.—[Mr. Arbuthnot.]

Gravesham (Rail Link)
Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Mr. Arbuthnot.]
2.52 pm
Mr. Jacques Arnold: I appreciate this opportunity to raise a matter that concerns not only my constituents in the borough of Gravesham but those of my hon. Friends the Members for Medway (Dame P. Fenner), who is here, for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) and for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe).
The channel tunnel high-speed rail link has been a blight on the lives of far too many of my constituents for five years. Every imaginable route has crossed my constituency—originally on stilts past the village of Istead Rise, it has swung from Culverstone in the south to the current route which skirts Northfleet and Gravesend in the north.
We are now in the final stage of the consultation period on the announced route, and I shall highlight today the principal matters that remain of concern to my constituents. First, Pepper Hill. The announcement of Union Railways last March showed the link passing through a tunnel beneath 90 houses at Pepper Hill, Northfleet. It claimed in the environmental appraisal of its reference case that there would be no noise impact on Northfleet and Gravesend other than to Hazells, a local farming community, due to the Waterloo spur junction.
In respect of irradiated noise, Union Railways claimed:
"No dwellings are predicted to be affected at Pepper Hill, assuming a mitigated track design,"
It went on:
"around 10 dwellings above the tunnel at Pepper Hill…would be at risk of settlement. This would be of low moderate concern."
I must tell the House that it is of major concern. I do not believe its claims about noise or vibration. That is why on 24 March of this year I called for an assessment of the impact of vibration and noise on the houses, both during construction and in operation of the link. It was not until 6 May that the then chairman of Union Railways confirmed that he would commission a geological survey of the tunnel area beneath Pepper Hill.
Inexplicably, it was not until September that drilling for samples for the survey started. I was told that the final factual report on the laboratory tests of samples and detailed geological descriptions would be available only on 29 November. That is why I called for a time extension to consider final representations on the Pepper Hill route options. I am grateful to my right hon. Friend the Minister for his confirmation earlier this month that he would receive representations on those routes from Gravesham borough council and myself by 31 December and that those would be taken into consideration. I trust that he will confirm that again today.
As both the A2 rail action group and I cannot interpret geological data as to the impact of noise and vibration, I called last March on the Gravesham borough council to appoint experts on our behalf. The then Conservative administration of the council rapidly and efficiently undertook to do so. Sadly, Gravesham borough council now has a Labour administration. I have called on it to honour the undertaking of its Conservative predecessor. I stress that it must finally appoint the specialist consultants to assess the steady flow of geological data that has already been sent to it. It must be ready with its well-researched representations before 31 December.
1154
All that would be academic if we could achieve a better tunnel route option. Tunnel route 226, beneath the National Grid Company electricity substation, would avoid tunnelling beneath any houses. I was alarmed that Union Railways developed and then dropped that option. To use its words, it parked it. I called on the chief executive of the National Grid Company to give his maximum co-operation to a study of the option. He has undertaken that and Union Railways has now unparked the option.
My right hon. Friend the Minister has confirmed to me that the National Grid Company is undertaking a study of the sensitivity of the existing equipment with something more modern and the relocation of the switching station. That report is due at the end of October. I ask my right hon. Friend today to reconfirm that timetable and call on the National Grid Company to keep to it.
Much of the electricity switchgear at the substation is 60 years old and serves much of west Kent. Surely it is due for replacement by ultra-modern and less bulky equipment. Surely new facilities will be required for the proposed Ebbsfleet international and domestic stations and associated developments, for Blue Water park and for the rail link itself. It cannot and must not be beyond those various authorities to find a compatible outcome that would allow the tunnel to pass below the current site.
That route option is clearly preferable. The current option—beneath the houses—would be an unacceptable imposition on the residents. The only remaining option —on a high viaduct around Pepper Hill—would cause noise, to the detriment both of Northfleet and Istead Rise and would be even more unacceptable.
I shall deal now with the elevations—the vertical alignment of the remainder of the A2 route past Gravesend and Northfleet. That is conditioned by the requirement for freight working of the rail link. I am not convinced that freight working is necessary. From the opening of the channel tunnel until the high-speed rail link is open for traffic, all trains from the channel tunnel will travel on existing routes through Tonbridge and Borough Green. British Rail has spent £1,200 million of Government funds to ensure that they can do so adequately.
The Tonbridge route in particular is especially suitable for freight, which does not need to go at high speeds arid can travel around London to the west along existing lines to the remainder of the country. When the high-speed rail link is ready, passenger traffic will come off these two lines in rolling stock built for passengers and high-value cargo such as that carried by airliners. That rolling stock can manage gradients of up to one in 40. The freight should, therefore, stay on the existing lines. I ask my right hon. Friend to consider that carefully, because if the rail link is confined to high-speed trains, with corresponding power units and rolling stock, scope opens up for route engineering which would bring considerable environmental advantages.
Current plans provide for freight loops at Singlewell, parallel to Old Watling street and Hever Court road. Indeed, railway buffs such as our late good friend the previous Member for Christchurch, Mr. Robert Adley, will know those as sidings. If slow-moving freight trains stick to the southerly route, those freight loops would not be required and the link could cross the A227 Wrotham road at a far lower vertical alignment.
I should still like Union Railways to consider the possibility of the railway going under that road or of, at the very least, lowering the alignment of the crossing—if

1155
necessary, by realigning the A227 to the bottom of the dry valley. A lower alignment with appropriate sound-mitigating measures would help residents by the Tollgate, notably at Templar drive, which overlooks the site, and at Istead Rise, which is up the valley.
The environmental impact at eastern Gravesham is also a matter for concern. I thank my right hon. Friend the Minister for his decision, taken nearly a year ago, to reject the Union Railways board reference case, which would have taken the link through the Luddesdown valleys and close to the historic village of Cobham. He was right to insist on following the A2-M2 corridor at that point.
Nevertheless, the detailed route that was announced has caused concern at Scalers hill and Cobham hall, which are of historic interest, and for Ashenbank wood, which is of environmental value. I appreciate the improvements which have since been made by Union Railways to move the link northwards at that point, but close attention is required for further environmental protection.
Bearing in mind the need to extend the time for representations by Gravesham borough council and myself until 31 December, the detailed announcement cannot be made until the House returns in January. Can my right hon. Friend give a hint as to the timing of the announcement and of the hybrid Bill arrangements?
The announcement will clearly trigger the safeguarding prodedures and with them the right of householders to serve blight notices. Although Union Railways originally told us that it would sympathetically consider hardship cases, not one of the small number of cases that I forwarded to it led to purchase. That has not been very helpful.
I have read the "Property purchase and compensation policy" paper of my right hon. Friend's Department. I have considerable misgivings. In particular, I note that it states:
"Blight notices would not be accepted for properties within safeguard zones over bored tunnels, except where there are surface works such as ventilation shafts."
If that policy were applied to a Union Railways tunnel beneath houses at Pepper Hill, it would be unacceptable, especially if the geological survey shows that potential vibration and/or noise would occur. Residents bought the houses there without such perils and they should be adequately compensated for any detriment.
I also note the rights of householders to compensation for environmental intrusion under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973. However, it is unreasonable that that legislation can only be invoked 12 months after the use of the railway. There are years of real property blight until then and my right hon. Friend must consider the subject of compensation again.
Lastly, I turn to the prospect of a station in the Ebbsfleet valley, for international and domestic traffic. I welcome it wholeheartedly. It would bring thousands of jobs to the area in association with related development. It would improve the lot of our long-suffering commuters, reducing travel time to work in London from 50 minutes to 19, in enhanced comfort. It would bring about new roads, a Northfleet town bypass and a new junction with the A2, and it would inevitably bring improved house prices to thousands of local home owners.
The only drawback for which a solution must be found is the impact on archaelogical Roman remains and the environment of the ancient Ebbsfleet river. There are other
1156
developments that blend in with urban canals, and I am sure that the planners can find a sensitive solution to the problem.
As for the road enhancement, I trust that for the process of planning the rail link my right hon. Friend is in close contact with my hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic to ensure that the plans are compatible with any future developments and land requirements of the A2 road. My constituents cannot go through such upheaval twice.
I support the Ebbsfleet station proposal, which the Conservative Gravesham borough council welcomed. My hon. Friend the Member for Dartford and his Conservative borough council support it. I am sure that the new Labour Gravesham borough council will do a U-turn and support it once the dinosaurs in the Northfleet Labour party have been overcome.
Blue Circle Properties, the principal landowner in the area, is working up a project known as Euro-city which it claims will provide 34,000 jobs through associated developments such as plans for conference centres, an exhibition centre, hotels, and commercial and retail development. That would crown the plans of my right hon. and hon. Friends the Ministers at the Department of the Environment to develop the east Thames corridor, which would restore the derelict districts left behind by decades of chalk quarrying and other industries. I hope that my right hon. Friend the Minister will strongly support Ebbsfleet's bid to become the site of the international station.
There is no doubt that the House wants the rail link—all parties want it. I hope that all hon. Members will remember that it involves a massive impact on the environment of the residents of the garden of England, the county of Kent. I hope that the House and the Government will insist on adequate and sensitive environmental protection for my constituents and those of hon. Members who represent other constituencies in Kent.
3.6 pm
The Minister for Public Transport (Mr. Roger Freeman): I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold), not only on the clarity with which he presented his case, but on his careful attention to the interests of all his constituents over many years. As the Minister for Public Transport, I have had dealings with my hon. Friend and others, and I know that he pays close attention to his constituents' needs. I am sure that he will continue to do so, and I congratulate him on that.
My hon. Friend the Member for Medway (Dame P. Fenner) has also expressed a number of concerns over the years, particularly about those who live in Borstal and Strood. I congratulate her on the close attention that she pays to the problems that will result from the construction of the link. I can give an assurance that we shall listen carefully to any representations made and seek to achieve the almost impossible: to balance the cost of the overall project against the environmental protection required, not just by law, but by common sense, if planning permission is to be obtained.
The debate is timely because Union Railways has today submitted its report to the Government on the options for refining further the rail link route and the options for intermediate stations. I congratulate Mr. John Armitt, particularly his predecessor Mr. John Prideaux, who worked for a considerable period and bore a large brunt of

1157
the initial preparatory work. I also congratulate the staff of Union Railways and British Railways for the thoroughness with which they performed their task. They have not pleased everyone; there have been problems, which will continue. I want to record my thanks for the work of Union Railways and British Railways.
It is also appropriate that we should be debating the issue now because earlier today my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport at long last announced the formal approval for the Jubilee line. I understand that the chief executive of London Underground has placed the first orders, which is good news for London and the country. Thousands of jobs will be created by a major transport project which is now under way.
The Government's aim is to reach decisions on the channel tunnel rail link route and stations at the end of the year or soon afterwards. My hon. Friend would not wish to pin me down to a certain day, but I am outlining our target. That will be with a view to safeguarding the route and, parliamentary timetable permitting, introducing a hybrid Bill as soon as possible thereafter. It may be helpful for those wishing to submit their views to my Department if I take this opportunity to explain what needs to be addressed now, and what other matters—generally of detail—can be left for later discussion.
What we need to decide in the next couple of months or so is the land that needs to be safeguarded and then incorporated into the Bill, together with the railway works. The Bill has to specify a single route within reasonable limits of deviation, so we must make a choice between the local route variations that have been identified by Union Railways during the public consultation process. We must specify the arrangements for the terminal, and select an intermediate station, or possibly stations. The Bill cannot present a multiple choice. We must also decide on the maximum extent of other possible land requirements for construction purposes and additional facilities.
The comments that we have sought from local authorities by 12 November should be directed at the basic choice of route, the provision of tunnels and major mitigation measures such as cuttings and the choice of stations. Comments will also be useful on other strategic issues such as commuting, freight, and regeneration, in particular where those affect the land requirements and railway works for the project. Comments from anyone else with a direct interest on strategic issues—I am well aware of the controversy still surrounding many aspects of the preferred route—will also be welcome by 12 November or very soon afterwards. Those should be sent direct to my Department.
It is important to realise that consultation will continue beyond 12 November on a whole range of more detailed matters. Those will include the finer details of route design within the safeguarded area and the selection of mitigation measures such as screens, walls, bunds, planting and track support within tunnels to reduce problems of re-radiated noise. Citing the example of Pepper Hill, information that becomes available from further site investigation will also be taken into account. Consultation will also continue on the details of the construction process, such as construction methods and their impact and mitigation; any honing down of the space requirements within the specified construction sites; and the transport and disposal of surplus spoil. I expect consultation on all those matters of detail to continue until the Bill is introduced and, indeed, afterwards as well.
1158
My hon. Friend has called for a time extension beyond 12 November to allow for final representations on Pepper Hill. Union Railways has in the last couple of days delivered to Gravesham borough council and my hon. Friend a summary of the results from the boreholes drilled recently at Pepper Hill. More detailed information including laboratory work will follow later, and then an interpretation study will need to be commissioned. As I have said, that information can be taken into account later, beyond the deadline of 12 November. I do not wish to extend the consultation period further in general, because that will delay safeguarding and, as a consequence, access to voluntary purchase for those affected. Therefore, I should still like to receive comments by 12 November. However, if some are received later we shall endeavour to take them into account if at all possible, and I am happy to repeat my undertaking to my hon. Friend that I shall discuss with him his views on the particular issue of geological investigations at Pepper Hill before any decisions on safeguarding are taken. I hope that that is a clear undertaking and consistent with what I have said previously.
The rail link in Gravesham will have some unavoidable environmental impact, but there is also the potential for substantial benefits. The challenge is to ensure that the impacts are successfully mitigated and that the most is made of the benefits.
The logic of making use of the existing M2-A2 transport corridor rather than creating a fresh corridor is inescapable, but I recognise that there are environmental concerns along the route in Gravesham, such as at Pepper Hill. Union Railways has studied suggested variations to the project so that proper comparisons can be made. For example, several options have been identified at Pepper Hill, including the one that my hon. Friend refers to a tunnel route 226. In terms of that option, I understand that National Grid's report on the implications of tunnelling beneath its switching station is expected to be delivered to Union Railways later today. This work should enable the Government—with the benefit of comments from hon. Members, local authorities and others—to make a choice on what should be safeguarded and go into the Bill. As I have said, consultation can continue on construction and mitigation. I also appreciate that the impact on Ashenbank wood and Cobham park causes concern because those are sensitive areas. Union Railways has looked at the options for minimising impacts and the Government will consider those, taking account of the comments received from local authorities and others.
I appreciate the points my hon. Friend makes about Ebbsfleet station. The possible station—domestic, international or both—at Ebbsfleet, on the boundary between Gravesham and Dartford, would be of considerable benefit to the area. It would, indeed, foster regeneration. There could also be considerable benefits to commuters from a new station, both in terms of extra capacity and faster journey times. Those are all factors which we shall bear in mind when coming to a decision on the station or stations to be provided on the rail link. I should add that commuters using the north Kent line will also benefit, whether or not Ebbsfleet is selected for a station, as that line will have a connection on to the new rail link.
For the purposes of a complete record of what has occurred during the past few months, I should mention that I have visited the site at Rainham, which is an alternative

1159
site for servicing the traffic that will come from the M25 to access the rail link for international traffic. Of course that, too, has advantages as well as disadvantages.
My hon. Friend raised a number of other issues in his speech. First, on freight and the rail link, Union Railways has designed the line primarily as a high-speed passenger railway. It has made only those changes to an optimum high-speed passenger alignment that would serve to keep open the option of using the rail link for freight should demand warrant it. The possible provision of passing loops is part of that. However, it has to be said that present forecasts do not suggest that freight traffic will expand beyond that which the existing rail network would be able to accommodate. My hon. Friend mentioned the crossing of the A227 Wrotham road. I understand that Union Railways has, in fact, looked at two options that would either lower or eliminate the proposed viaduct over the Wrotham road at Tollgate, and both are commented on in its report.
Secondly, on compensation, I appreciate the concern about the exclusion of properties over tunnels from the statutory blight provisions, but the practical evidence of underground railways in use is that their impacts are not sufficiently serious to justify purchase. That is the evidence before the Department. The impacts may, however, qualify for compensation for any loss of value under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973. There is no reason to treat the rail link any differently from past and current schemes such as the Jubilee line extension and crossrail. To purchase homes over tunnels—apart from being unjustified on environmental impact grounds—would add to the cost of already expensive tunnels to such an extent that probably few would ever be built in urban areas for this or any other project. That would perversely force schemes on to the surface, resulting in increased demolitions.
As my hon. Friend said, compensation under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 can be claimed 12 months after the start of use of the railway. That is because time is needed to assess the actual impact of the railway once it is operational. However, exacting design aims have been set for the rail link, not only for noise but for all other areas of potential environmental impacts such as vibration. Our policy paper on compensation explains that the thinking on that is that it is better to limit the environmental intrusion at source, as far as is reasonably practicable, by putting the railway in a cutting or providing mitigation in the form of screens and landscaping, rather than to rely simply on compensation. On the question of surface
1160
sections of the route, property seriously affected during construction and operation of the rail link, not just that actually required permanently or temporarily, may also be included within the zone safeguarded once the final route has been announced.
We are consulting on the noise regulations. I have written directly to many hon. Members and placed copies in the Library. I hope that, in due course, the House will consider the proposed noise regulations concerning the construction and use of the rail link.
As to interaction with the A2, I assure my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham that I am in close touch with my hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic—in fact, I spoke to him a few minutes before this debate began—about the relationship between the plans for the rail link and possible improvements to the A2. My hon. Friend the Minister and I jointly chaired a meeting with representatives of north Kent local authorities in July to discuss that very issue and the relationship between the rail link and the M2 widening. Union Railways' planners are of course in close contact with my Department's road planners.
I assure my hon. Friends the Members for Gravesham and for Medway that the roads and traffic department within the Department of Transport and my own officials will work not only closely together but with the Department of the Environment. Gone are the days when one could talk about transport planning in isolation from land use planning, let alone plan rail projects without examining the implications for roads. We are now in much safer waters in the planning of major new road and rail projects, which are properly co-ordinated from their inception.
I accept that there are important environmental considerations in my hon. Friend's constituency, which he has drawn to my attention over several years. As I mentioned, I have visited his constituency on a number of occasions, and I look forward to doing so again—and to visiting the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Medway. Union Railways has examined the issues with some care and I look forward to reading its report. We shall reach decisions on the route and stations, taking full account of comments received, as soon as possible. It is important to stress that consultation will continue on matters of finer detail. This is just the beginning of what will be a long process of detailed consideration of the rail link for planning purposes, but at least the process has begun.
Question put and agreed to.
Adjourned accordingly at twenty minutes past Three o'clock.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the number of people who have received legal aid in each of the last three years.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The number of acts of assistance provided under the legal aid scheme between 1990–91 and 1992–93 was 2.6 million, 3 million and 3.3 million respectively.

  Land Registry
  Sir Anthony Durant
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason survey work in Her Majesty's Land Registry's current market testing exercise has been awarded to Ordnance Survey; and what consideration was given to private sector bids.

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The Ordnance Survey bid for the whole of England and Wales represented the best value for money when compared with any other combination of bids. Her Majesty's Land Registry gave full and proper consideration to all the bids received from the private sector, and the evaluation process observed scrupulously the principles of fair trading and good management practice.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Predatory Birds
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications his Department has received in the past six months for licences to control the threat to fisheries from cormorants and similar predatory birds.

  Mr. Soames
  From 1 April to 30 September 1993, 34 such licence applications were received.

  Pesticides
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been allocated by her Department in each of the last 10 years for monitoring and inspecting levels of pesticide residue in food.

  Mr. Soames
  The costs of monitoring for pesticide residues carried out by the Government's working party on pesticide residues over the last 10 years are as follows:

  £ million

  1992–93

  2·1

  1991–92

  1·9

  1990–91

  1·8

  798

  £ million

  1989–90

  1·5

  1988–89

  0·9

  1987–88

  0·7

  1986–87

  0·55

  1985–86

  10·5

  1984–85

  10·5

  1983–84

  10·5

  1 Approximately

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make it her policy to adopt a target for reducing pesticide use in the United Kingdom by 50 per cent. by 2,000.

  Mr. Soames
  No. Government policy is to ensure that pesticide use is limited to the minimum necessary for the effective control of pests compatible with the protection of human health and the environment. As I informed the hon. Member in my answer of 26 May 1993, columns 597–98, this policy is pursued through the approvals process and our research programme. The tonnage of pesticide applied in England and Wales between 1980 and 1990 fell by 21 per cent. There is also increasing evidence that users are seeking to use reduced application rates where possible, building on the results of research findings.

  Sheep and Cattle Farms
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the net farm income for mainly sheep and sheep and cattle farms in severely disadvantaged areas in England and Wales, in both nominal and real terms for each year since 1978.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The statistical information used in the autumn review of hill livestock compensatory allowances will be placed in the Library of the House when the outcome of the review is announced on 30 November.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many producers in England and Wales are entitled to hill livestock compensatory allowances; and what proportion of those are located in(a) severely disadvantaged areas and (b) disadvantaged areas.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Some 30,000 producers in England and Wales are currently entitled to claim hill livestock compensatory allowances; of these about 22,000 farm either wholly or in part within the severely disadvantaged area and the remaining 8,000 farm either wholly or in part within the disadvantaged area and land outside the less-favoured area.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in England and Wales were in receipt of hill livestock compensatory allowances in the severely disadvantaged areas according to the most recent figures for each year since 1978.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  Precise annual figures covering this period are not available but the number of claimants paid each year under the hill livestock compensatory allowances scheme to farmers with holdings located either wholly or partially within the severely
  799
  disadvantaged area, or the corresponding area prior to the extension of the less-favoured areas in 1985, has risen slightly from about 20,700 in 1980 to 21,300 in 1992.

  Ewe and Cow Premiums
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give the figures for England and Wales relating to 1993 for the value of the ewe premium and suckler cow premium per head distinguishing the value of any supplements if applicable.

  Mrs. Gillian Shephard
  The rate of sheep annual premium in England and Wales for the 1993 marketing year is fixed only after the end of the year. To date, Commission regulations provide for payments of two advances totalling £12.55 per eligible ewe and a supplement in less-favoured areas of £5.16 per eligible ewe. The final rate of premium and supplement due in spring 1994 will reflect the level of market prices and green rates operating in each member state throughout the marketing year.

  The 1993 suckler cow premium rate per head is £65.73 in England and Wales. In addition a payment of £28 17 per head can be made if the stocking density on a holding is less than 1.4 livestock units per hectare of eligible forage area.

  Aujeszky's Disease
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement about the arrangements for the use of the surplus levy funds from the Aujeszky's disease eradication fund.

  Mr. Soames
  We have held discussions with the Pig Disease Eradication Fund Ltd. and have drawn up an arrangement for the use of the accrued interest on the surplus levy funds. Starting in this financial year, for three years the accrued interest will be used to offset some of the costs of the monitoring work carried out by the state veterinary service to maintain Great Britain's internationally recognised health status. The capital sum will remain untouched by this arrangement. At the end of the three years we will carry out a further review with the Pig Disease Eradication Fund, in the light of the developments regarding pig disease in the United Kingdom and EC. I am pleased that the Pig Disease Eradication Fund Ltd. accepts this arrangement.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mr. Siemion Serafimowicz
  Mr. Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries have been received from overseas Governments regarding Siemion Serafimowicz, now living in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Charles Wardle
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: None.

  Immigration
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it takes on average for replies to be sent to legal representatives dealing with deportation and immigration cases; and if he will make a statement.
  800
  Mr Charles Wardle
  The information is not available.

DEFENCE

  AWE, Aldermaston
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether red commissioning has commenced on the A90 complex at AWE, Aldermaston.

  Mr. Aitken
  No.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all modifications made to the liquid and solid waste treatment plants at AWE, Aldermaston, following the publication of the Pochin report.

  Mr. Aitken
  Details of the large number of modifications carried out for liquid waste treatment are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs. However, significant modifications have been made in the following areas:

  Effluent collection system

  Effluent treatment

  Sludge solidification

  Treated effluent discharge

  Change room access to plants

  Solid waste is not treated on site.

  Dangerous Flying
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sanctions are available to discipline pilots of military aircraft who have been guilty of dangerous flying and who have left the service before the institution of disciplinary proceedings under service regulations.

  Mr. Hanley
  The disciplinary codes of all three services make provision for court-martial action to be taken against former service pilots who have committed an offence, provided the trial begins within six months of their ceasing to be subject to service discipline. These provisions would cover the offences of dangerous and low flying.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce legislation to make dangerous flying in military aircraft over the United Kingdom an offence.

  Mr. Hanley
  Existing legislation deals adequately with occurrences of dangerous flying. I refer the hon. Member to section 20 of the Navy Discipline Act 1957, section 49 of the Army Act 1955 and section 49 of the Air Force Act 1955.

  Low Flying
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the RAF police investigation of the low-flying incident over Gullane on 16 September 1992 included(a) an interview with the rear-seat passenger in the Tornado or (b) interviews with or attempts to find witnesses on the ground apart from the original complainer.

  Mr. Hanley
  The RAF police investigation of the low-flying incident over Gullane on 16 September 1992 did not include an interview with the rear seat passenger of the aircraft or interviews with or attempts to find witnesses on the ground other than the original complainant.
  801
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the established procedure to be followed if a Tornado navigator feels unwell during a low-level sortie.

  Mr. Hanley
  No specific procedures apply if a Tornado navigator feels unwell during a low level sortie. The pilot will decide appropriate action, which may range from carrying on with the original purpose of the flight in the case of a temporary incapacity to terminating the sortie, in the light of the particular circumstances.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the regulations for low-level familiarisation flights in Tornado aircraft; what are the criteria for weather at base and operating area, and the minimum altitude and maximum speed; whether such flights can include low passes or simulated attacks either on planned targets or targets of opportunity; what are the limits on bank angle and G pull on such flights.. what specific manoeuvres are prohibited in such flights; and whether such flights are permitted in operational GRI and GRIA variants.

  Mr. Hanley
  The weather criteria for a low-level Tornado familiarisation sortie are visibility of 5 km and 1,500 m horizontal and 500 ft vertical separation from cloud. These are the standard criteria for military low flying. The weather at the base airfield must also meet the standard criteria for take off and landing of 800 m visibility and a minimum cloud base of 200 ft. The minimum altitude permitted during the sortie is 250 ft minimum separation distance; and the maximum speed permitted would normally be 480 knots, although an absolute maximum speed overland of 550 knots may be permitted for very short time periods. Low passes and simulated attacks would be permitted. There are no limits placed on the angle of bank, and the maximum G would be dictated by the limits placed on the aircraft unless the passenger's medical clearance specified a lower limit. No specific manoeuvres are prohibited but the involvement of passengers in the operation of weapon release equipment or switches is not permitted. Such sorties may be flown in operational variants of the Tornado GR1 and GR la. All such sorties must be properly authorised, and the pilot of the aircraft must meet minimum experience and qualification standards before being permitted to fly passengers.

  Laser-guided Bombs
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on his plans for procuring precision-guided munitions to fulfil staff requirement 1242; and what is the timetable for this procurement;

  (2) if it is his intention to exclude non-European participation from competition for SR 1242.

  Mr. Aitken
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Luff) on 4 May 1993, columns 18–19. Twelve ompanies in the United Kingdom, United States and Europe were invited to tender by 4 August 1993. Three companies responded—one each in the United Kingdom, United States and France. We are currently considering these in detail but I do not expect to be able to announce the results of the competition until the new year.

  Military Flights
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the southerly directional flow control was introduced for military flights over the Gullane/ Aberlady area.

  Mr. Hanley
  The flow controls north of East Fortune airfield were introduced on 1 June 1992.

  Nuclear Weapons Accidents
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the maximum area that might have to be(a) evacuated and (b) subjected to restrictions in a worst case scenario nuclear weapons transport accident; and what are the maximum arc and distance that would be involved in the most unfavourable weather conditions;

  (2) if he will make a statement on the extent of nuclear weapon plutonium dispersion hazards.

  Mr. Hanley
  Because of the stringent safety precautions observed, a nuclear weapon transport accident that posed a real hazard to the public would be an extremely unlikely event. The worst scenario would involve the crash of a military aircraft transporting nuclear weapons which then subsequently produced a release of respirable particles of plutonium.

  The MOD document for local authorities and emergency services, issued in December 1992, does address this scenario, and gives general guidance on the measures that should be taken promptly to protect the public. A copy of the document is already available in the Library of the House. The document makes clear that further specific advice would be given by the MOD for the particular circumstances of an accident.

  Joint Direct Attack Munition
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the decision by the US Defense Department to exclude foreign participation at prime contractor level from the completion for a joint direct attack munition.

  Mr. Aitken
  Despite representations by the Ministry of Defence, the US Department of Defense has decided to exclude foreign participation at prime contractor level in its joint direct attack munition programme because of US national security constraints. However, foreign firms may participate as sub-contractors and United Kingdom companies will no doubt pursue any opportunities in this area.

  Submarine Accidents
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the maximum area and radius which would have to be(a) evacuated and (b) subjected to restrictions in the worst case scenario of a severely ruptured submarine reactor due to collision or other circumstances in the firth of Forth or the firth of Clyde; and what contingency plans have been made.

  Mr. Hanley
  The overall probability of any accident resulting in even a small release is very low indeed. Nevertheless it remains prudent to develop contingency plans to respond to the possibility of an accident which
  803
  might result in a radioactive hazard. The risk of an accident which would require the application of public protection measures such as shelter, evacuation or taking potassium iodate tablets from any accident location is no more likely than about one in 1 million in any one year, even assuming a reactor is operating continuously at that particular location.

  Personnel Statistics
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a breakdown by section, agency or function of the numbers of civil servants, civilian and non-military personnel employed by his Department.

  Mr. Aitken
  The information requested is published in Defence Statistics 1993 tables 2.3 and 2.27, a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library.

  Pilot Training
  Dr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of the RAF pilot training operations, Bristol university air squadron and No. 3 Air Experience Flight, at Colerne airfield, Wiltshire.

  Mr. Hanley
  The Bristol university air squadron and No. 3 Air Experience Flight, which commenced operations at Colerne airfield in April have budget allocations for the current financial year of £758,000 and £329,000 respectively.

  Dr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many young people are currently being trained to fly at Colerne airfield; and how many of these trainees are expected to join the RAF as pilots.

  Mr. Hanley
  Forty-three young people are currently being trained to fly at Colerne airfield with the Bristol university air squadron. From experience, we would expect about 70 per cent. to join the RAF as pilots.

  Seawolf Missiles
  Mr. James Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about orders for vertical launch Seawolf missiles.

  Mr. Aitken
  I am pleased to announce that we have awarded a contract for a second production order of 450 vertical launch Seawolf missiles to British Aerospace Defence Ltd., Dynamics Division. These will provide 24-hour protection for the Royal Navy's type 23 frigates against aircraft and anti-ship missiles.

  The value of the order is more than £100 million. Work will be centred at the company's Lostock and Filton sites. It will sustain some 100 jobs within the company, and many more at sub-contractors throughout the country.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Konver Programme
  Mr. McCartney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Commission rules for funding under the Konver programme apply only to small and medium-sized enterprises; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms Anderson) on 27 October,Official Report, column 643.

  Methane
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the potential contribution of coal-bed methane to United Kingdom energy resources; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Eggar
  Coalbed methane is still in the exploration phase in the United Kingdom, determining if production is viable. No estimate has therefore been made.

  Although the coal fields are well defined, it is necessary to find out the parameters that will govern the rate and extent of release of methane from United Kingdom coals and to adapt the production technique for United Kingdom conditions.

  Iron and Steel Readaptation Benefit
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of the iron and steel readaptation benefits scheme.

  Mr. Sainsbury
  The scheme was set up in 1974 since when many improvements have been made to the arrangements for helping unemployed people. ISERBS is not very effective in assisting redundant steel workers to re-enter the labour market and has not proved good value for money. Further large-scale restructuring in the United Kingdom steel industry is no longer anticipated. Redundant steel workers should henceforth be treated in the same way as most other redundant workers. ISERBS will therefore be terminated.

  The termination will apply in respect of closures, capacity cuts or changes in activities at steel companies which take place from today. However, it is important that appropriate transitional arrangements are put in place which are as fair as possible. Accordingly I am today also issuing a consulation paper and inviting comments by 10 December 1993 on those arrangements in respect of such events which I am satisfied are imminent.

  Eco-management and Audit Regulation
  Mr. David Porter
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the result of the consultation exercise in relation to the accreditation arrangements relating to the EC Eco-management and audit regulation and British Standard BS 7750.

  Mr. McLoughlin
  The consultation exercise showed clear support for the appointment of the National Accreditation Council for Certification Bodies as accreditation body for both the EC regulation and BS7750. NACCB is being asked to start work immediately so that it has the maximum possible time to develop accreditation arrangements which will include the necessary environmental dimension and to streamline procedures so that both regulation and standard may be as accessible as possible, to small firms in particular. We are actively considering the formal separation of NACCB from BSI and a further announcement will be made in due course. A further announcement will also be made in due course on the appointment of a competent body under the terms of the regulation.

  Accounts Services Agency
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the review of options for the future of DTI's Accounts Services Agency.
  805
  Mr. Eggar
  The Department has received a proposal for a management led employee buy out from members of the agency's management. I very much welcome this initiative.

  In view of this proposal and of the very good progress the Accounts Services Agency has made in developing a more commercial approach since it became an agency in October 1991, I have decided to commission a review to consider the options for the future of the agency.

  PA Consulting Group has been appointed to assess the commercial position and prospects of the agency; to assess the current and potential developments in the markets in financial and management accounts services, and the opportunities and threats these may present to the agency; and to consider alternative possible forms of ownership and management. The consultants will assess the advantages and disadvantages to the Department, the agency, its customers and staff of all options.

  In assessing the options the consultants will need to take account of the requirement to ensure that the Department continues to receive essential accounting services. The Department is reviewing its requirements for these services, and the scope for them to be met from the private sector, in parallel with the review by consultants.

  In undertaking their review the consultants will take account of the proposal for a management-led employee buy-out.

  EC Trade Mark Office
  Mr. Mills
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received about the economic and employment effect of locating the proposed European Community trade mark office in London; and if he will make a statement.
  806
  Mr. McLoughlin
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: The Government have received two letters about the proposed Community trade mark office since January this year.

  The location of CTMO has been linked to the question of the seats of other Community bodies. The Government's priority has always been to get the best deal for the United Kingdom. Our bid for the CTMO remains on the table.

  Press Advertising
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much Companies House has spent on press advertising in the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94.

  Mr. Neil Hamilton
  [holding answer 27 October 1993]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the chief executive of Companies House Executive Agency for which my Department is responsible. I have therefore asked Mr. David Durham to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from David Durham to Sir Michael Grylls, dated 29 October 1993:
  On 21 October you tabled the following Parliamentary Question:—
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, how much Companies House has spent on Press advertising in the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94.
  Following the answer given by the President of the Board of Trade, I am replying as Chief Executive of Companies House.
  In 1991–92 Companies House spent £106,399 on display advertising in national and regional newspapers, trade and professional press. In 1992–93 the figure was £232,744 and in the current financial year Companies House has spent £39,178 with a further £47,476 committed.
  These figures exclude VAT. They cover advertising paid for directly by Companies House as well.as advertising funded by the Department of Trade and Industry.
  I hope this information is helpful to you.

TRANSPORT

  Trans-Pennine Study
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the Government's response to the public consultation on the trans-Pennine study.

  Mr. Key
  I shall make my response when all replies to the public consultation have been fully considered.

  Vehicle Operator Licensing
  Ms. Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list details of road checks on light goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles carried out by vehicle inspectorate staff during 1992; and how many vehicles were issued with defect notices or prohibition notices.

  Mr. Key
  The vehicle inspectorate collects information on a financial rather than a calender year basis. The figures below relate to the financial year 1992–93.

  Number

  Roadworthiness checks

  LGVs1

  Number of vehicles checked

  134,382

  Number of prohibitions issued

  18,786

  Number of defect notices issued

  18,379

  PCVs2

  Number of vehicles checked

  29,542

  Number of prohibitions issued

  2,366

  Number of defect notices issued

  4,275

  Vehicles examined

  LGVs

  295,124

  PCVs

  40,508

  Vehicles weighed or prohibited

  LGVs

  Number weighed

  124,004

  Number prohibited

  6,987

  1 Large goods vehicle

  2 Passenger carrying vehicle

  These figures include 8,012 and 4,647 special partial checks on headlights and exhaust emissions on LGVs and PCVs respectively.

  VI issues advisory defect notices only as part of its roadworthiness checks.

  Traffic enforcement checks (checking driver hours and operator, vehicle and driver licences)

  M20
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was(a) the agreed cost, (b) the final cost, (c) the estimated time for and (d) the actual time taken, of the construction and widening of the M20 motorway between junctions 5 and 8.

  Mr. Key
  (a) The accepted tender for widening the M20 between junctions 5 and 8 is £69.5 million.

  (b) The final cost is not yet known.

  (c) Work started on 29 July 1991. The original contract completion date was 15 February 1993 but extensions of time have been granted under the terms of the contract.

  (d) The works are still under construction.

  Motorway Network
  Mr. Roy Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those links on the national motorway network which(a) are to dual four-lane specification and carry average daily traffic volumes in excess of 120,000 vehicles, (b) are to dual four-lane specification and carry average daily traffic volumes between 100,000 and 120,000 vehicles., (c) are to dual three-lane specification and carry average daily traffic volumes in excess of 80,000 vehicles, (d) are to dual three-lane specification and carry average daily volumes between 65,000 and 80,000 vehicles, (e) are to dual two-lane specification and carry average daily traffic volumes in excess of 50,000 vehicles and (f) are to dual two-lane specification and carry average daily traffic volumes between 40,000 and 50,000 vehicles.

  Mr. Key
  This information is not immediately available, but I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

  Bicycles
  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents were recorded in the last 12 months involving pedestrians and bicycles.

  Mr. Key
  Latest available data show that there were 24,962 pedestrian accidents and 49,767 bicycle accidents during the 12 months of 1992.

  Mr. Gorst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce regulations making it compulsory for bicycles to carry a warning device to warn pedestrians of their approach.

  Mr. Key
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 11 May by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Carlisle), to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Evans),Official Report, 12 May 1993, column. 380.

  A38
  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it is his intention to give further consideration to a route option to the south of Landrake as part of the consultation procedures for the A38 trunk road improvement between Saltash and Trerulefoot; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  We are considering all the responses to the recent public consultation, including suggestions for an alternative to the south of Landrake.

  Mr. Hicks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work will commence on the installation of speed control cameras and the construction of a footbridge over the A38 trunk road at Landrake; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Key
  We are arranging for the provision early in the new year of the necessary electrical and other work which will enable the police to install a speed enforcement camera at Landrake on the A38 trunk road.

  Construction of a footbridge over the A38 in the village requires the acquistion of privately owned land. We have yet to settle whether this land can be acquired by agreement, permitting construction in 1994–95, or whether compulsory purchase powers will have to be used, which would lead to later construction.

  Transport Research Laboratory
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the benefits that have arisen for safety of drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists from the innovations and work of the transport and road research laboratory in the last 10 years; and what plans he has to ensure that further progress in this field is maintained by commercial contact with bodies other than his own Department.

  Mr. Key
  The Transport Research Laboratory has been responsible for many research projects which have made important contributions to the safety of road users. For example, work on vehicle standards has provided benefits for both vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users, research on urban safety has resulted in the implementation of low cost engineering schemes showing significant casualty reductions and work on skidding accidents has led to a new road surface standard which has again significantly reduced casualties.

  The Department intends to continue with a major programme of research in road and vehicle safety at TRL, and expects to place contracts both with TRL and with other researchers. TRL for its part is also seeking work in these fields from bodies other than the Department.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the benefits obtained for his Department and the nation since the Transport Research Laboratory, Crowthorne became an executive agency in April 1992; and if he will list the possible further benefits and disbenefits he expects to raise from its full privatisation

  Mr. Key
  Benefits have been obtained through the Transport Research Laboratory's good performance against the challenging annual efficiency and quality targets set by my right hon. Friend; and through its high-quality research output, which has informed a range of policy decisions. The possible benefits and disbenefits of transferring the laboratory to the private sector are currently being studied by external consultants.

  Union Railways
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive a comprehensive report from Union Railways concerning the route of its proposed fast link, its costs, finance, operating capacity, international traffic forecasts, and forecasts of passenger traffic generated from any intermediate station; and when the report will be made available to the public.

  Mr. Freeman
  I received today a report from Union Railways which, apart from commercially sensitive information, will be published when the Government's decisions are announced.

  Office Costs
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 on rent and other costs associated with the offices of his Department at 2 Marsham street, London.

  Mr. Norris
  The estimated expenditurre on rent and other associated accommodation costs for the Department's offices at 2 Marsham street, London, is £10,156,641 in 1993–94.

  Jubilee Line Extension
  Sir Michael Neubert
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current position on the proposed extension to the Jubilee line to Stratford via Canary Wharf; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. MacGregor
  The High Court today discharged the relevant Olympia and York companies from administration; accordingly I shall today be giving the chairman of London Regional Transport my approval for London Underground Ltd. to let contracts for the construction and equipment of the Jubilee line extension. This reflects the fact that, in anticipation of their release from administration, and with the permission of Court, Olympia and York as the developers of Canary Wharf have entered into agreements to make a contribution of some £400 million towards the cost of the extension, a previously envisaged. The first contribution, of some £100 million, will be made forthwith, finance having been made available by the European Investment bank.

  London Underground Ltd. will start letting contracts for the extension at once. The total cost of the project is put at £1.9 billion, with the creation of over 22,000 jobs in the United Kingdom. London Underground Ltd. envisage completion of the extension in the first half of 1998. The 10-mile line will have 11 stations, including one at Westminster.

  I warmly welcome this successful outcome. The new line, assisted by private sector finance, will be of major benefit to London and its transport system, and in particular to the development of docklands.

  Director and Co-ordinator of Transport Security
  Mr. Dunn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will publish the 1992–93 annual report of the Director and Co-ordinator of Transport Security.

  Mr. John MacGregor
  I am today placing copies of this report in the Library of the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Members Dining Room
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what plans he has to improve the ventilation in the Members' Dining Room.

  Mr. Ray Powell
  Although there are no current plans specifically to improve ventilation in the Members' Dining Room, I understand that this matter forms part of the Catering Committee's comprehensive investigations into options for the modernisation of the Refreshment Department.

  Chamber (Seating)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce proposals to arrange for the Chamber to be so arranged as to provide seating for every hon. Member; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I have no plans to do so.

  University College, Swansea
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Lord President of the Council what plans he has to publish the report carried out by Sir Michael Davies last year in respect of three philosophy lecturers at University college, Swansea; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Newton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 6 July 1993, column.114.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Lord President of the Council how many parliamentary questions have been answered on or since 18 October with the statement that the answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Newton
  The number of answers given to parliamentary questions from 18 to 25 October 1993 recorded in the POLIS database as including a reference to part or all of the information being available only at disproportionate cost was 13. The total number of POLIS entries for written answers in that period was 1,374.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  Overseas Aid
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines are used in evaluating whether or not to grant support for projects under the Overseas Development Administration's aid and trade provision.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The criteria used in evaluating aid and trade provision cases are set out in the ATP "Guidelines for Applicants" booklet, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House. This is currently being revised to take account of the new OECD rules governing tied aid which came into force in 1992 and the revised arrangements for ATP announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development in another place on 17 June. Copies of the revised guidelines will be placed in the Libraries of the House when available.

  Commonwealth Institute
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he received from his Commonwealth counterparts at the Commonwealth conference in Cyprus in regard to the decision to withdraw Government funding for the Commonwealth Institute in London.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The Commonwealth Secretary General reminded my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State of the Secretary-General's statement of 22 September regretting the decision. There were no other representations.

  Overseas Aid (Efficiency)
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria the Government use to judge the efficiency of overseas aid; and if he will make a statement.
  812
  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of United Kingdom aid has the highest priority. The ODA's departmental report 1993, Cm 2202, sets out the Government's approach to these issues.

  Pakistan and India
  Mr. Bates
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the amount of British aid given to Pakistan and India in 1992–93.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  The provisional figures for gross bilateral aid to India and Pakistan in 1992–93 are £114.7 million and £34.5 million respectively. The final figures will be available in "British Aid Statistics", due to be published later this year.

  UNICEF Progress
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the ODA has to meet representatives of UNICEF-UK to discuss the implications for United Kingdom overseas aid policy of the findings of the UNICEF report "The Progress of Nations".

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Overseas Development Administration officials are in regular contact with UNICEF-UK on all UNICEF related matters. My officials attended a briefing meeting with UNICEF staff as well as the press launch last month of the progress of nations report.

  Angola
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent situation in Angola.

  Mr. Lennox-Boyd
  Following United Nations Security Council resolution 864 and the introduction of limited sanctions against UNITA the movement has declared a unilateral ceasefire and agreed to return to negotiations based on the 1991 Bicesse peace accords. "Proximity talks" involving the Government of Angola and UNITA, chaired by the United Nations Secretary General's special representative, Mr. Beye, began in Lusaka on 25 October. We hope that these will result in direct talks. We shall continue actively to support the Secretary General's efforts to bring about a nationwide ceasefire and a negotiated settlement.

  Aid Projects
  Dr. John Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since October 1989 he has overruled the advice of his Department's accounting officer that a project being considered for aid funds should not be supported in each case, giving the reasons for his decision.

  Mr. Hurd
  I have given a ministerial directive to ODA's accounting officer on one occasion. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him yesterday on the Pergau hydro-electric project.

EDUCATION

  Literacy
  Mr. David Nicholson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of(a) school leavers and (b) 16 to 19-year-olds have poor literacy skills; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Boswell
  A recent survey by the Government-funded adult literacy and basic skills unit suggested that more than 40 per cent. of students entering further education colleges needed help with basic literacy in order to achieve a good qualification. The raising of literacy standards is a top priority for the Government's policies for education.

  Sex Education
  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that boys are being taught moral responsibility in sex education.

  Mr. Forth
  In the new draft guidance which will be issued shortly, schools will be reminded of the requirement that sex education should be provided in such a manner as to encourage pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and to the value of family life. The guidance will emphasise the need for schools to foster in both sexes responsible sexual attitudes and behaviour.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he will take to encourage the work of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority in sex and moral education.

  Mr. Forth
  Under section 1 of the Education Reform Act 1988 all maintained schools are required to offer a curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society. The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority will be carrying out its work within this framework.

  Lady Olga Maitland
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will issue guidance to education authorities advising them not to use the Family Planning Association's primary school workbook on sex education for four-year-olds; and what is his policy on the use of explicit teaching materials for sex education in primary schools.

  Mr. Forth
  The law does not require primary schools to teach about sex. It does, however, require that where there is such teaching it should encourage pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and to the value of family life. My right hon. Friend has made clear his view that education about sex should begin in the home, as should all education. Governors of all schools should keep closely in touch with parents on this sensitive subject.

  School Inspections
  Ms Armstrong
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the number of people trained by the Office for Standards in Education for inspection; and for which categories they have been trained.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The arrangements for inspecting schools under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 are a matter for Ofsted.
  814
  I have asked Professor Sutherland to write to the hon. Member.

  First-Degree Arts Courses
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the saving to public funds that could be achieved by a reduction to two years in the time taken for first-degree arts courses at universities in England and Wales.

  Mr. Boswell
  Average public funding per student through Funding Council grant, mandatory awards and student loans for a funded student place on a classroom-based course in 1993–94 is around £5,000. If all such courses were of the conventional length of three years full time, a reduction to two years would lead to recurrent savings of some £560 million in 1993–94 prices when the change was fully implemented.

  If the length of first degree courses were reduced with no corresponding increase in the amount of teaching per year, curriculum coverage would be reduced. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is funding a pilot scheme of accelerated degree courses, which provide for more intensive teaching over two years. Direct comparisons with the costs of conventional three year degrees are not possible since the pilot courses attract special funding from the HEFCE and students are eligible for additional maintenance payments. The Government believe that such accelerated courses are likely to appeal mainly to some mature students.

  Grant-maintained Schools
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education under what statutory power he intends to provide a grant to the Grant-maintained Schools Centre to enable it to set up four regional offices to provide information on grant-maintained status.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend is making grant available to the Grant-maintained Schools Centre pursuant to regulation 15 of the Education (Grant) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990/1989).

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total cost to the Exchequer of the reduction in the special purposes grant-paid to grant-maintained schools to compensate for their reduced liability to pay council tax—uniform business rate—for the years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No cost to the Exchequer arises in this manner.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the special purposes grants given to each grant-maintained school in Devon for each financial year since 1991–92, including the current financial year.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following self-governing schools in Devon have received special purpose grants (SPGs):

  Amounts paid (£) for each financial year

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  School

  COLYTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL SPG (Development)

  17,450

  19,635

  22,695

  815

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  SPG (VAT)

  7,723

  —

  2,164

  SPG (Premises)

  2,303

  2,495

  2,082

  KNOWLES HILL SCHOOL

  Transitional Grant

  —

  —

  53,849

  SPG (Development)

  —

  —

  19,759

  ST. BONIFACE'S COLLEGE

  Transitional Grant

  –

  –

  51,660

  SPG (Development)

  –

  –

  31,068

  SPG (VAT)

  –

  –

  40,700

  SPG (Restructuring)

  –

  –

  8,627

  SPG (Premises)

  –

  –

  4,197

  TEIGN SCHOOL

  Transitional Grant

  –

  34,620

  21,930

  SPG (Development)

  —

  —

  37,612

  SPG (VAT)

  —

  —

  8,162

  SPG (Restructuring)

  —

  —

  17,883

  SPG (Premises)

  —

  —

  5,602

  TORQUAY BOYS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL

  Transitional Grant

  —

  56,460

  —

  SPG (Development)

  —

  9,276

  37,825

  SPG (VAT)

  —

  —

  9,680

  SPG (Premises)

  —

  —

  6,000

  UFFCULME SCHOOL

  Transitional Grant

  —

  —

  50,520

  SPG (Development)

  —

  —

  7,799

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the grant to the Grant-Maintained Schools Centre.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  My right hon. Friend announced on 16 March,Official Report, column 143, that he was making funds available to the Grant-maintained Schools Centre to support the dissemination of factual information about grant maintained status. The grant to the Grant-maintained Schools Centre for 1993–94 is likely as a consequence of this announcement to increase to around £790,000. The precise figure is yet to be finalised.

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of the 1992–93 audited accounts for the Grant-Maintained Schools Centre.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Yes, as soon as they are available.

  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education what amount was given to each grant-maintained school under section 11 funding for each financial year since 1991–92, including the current financial year.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The table shows the section 11 grants paid by the Department direct to grant-maintained schools for each of the years in question. Payments for the current financial year are those paid to date. The table excludes payments in respect of those grant-maintained schools which have elected to remain part of approved projects within their former maintaining local education authority, as these payments are not made by the Department.

  Section 11 payments

  School

  £

  1991–92

  Ash Green School

  4,384·00

  Avon Valley School

  4,837·00

  Burntwood School

  20,564·00

  816

  School

  £

  Claremont High School

  8,541·00

  Francis Bacon School

  29,856·00

  Hendon School

  28,097·00

  London Oratory School

  18,752·00

  Moseley Park GM School

  8,413·00

  Small Heath School

  41,637·00

  Southlands School

  6,234·00

  Stratford School

  18,419·00

  TOTAL

  189,734·00

  1992–93

  Ash Green School

  5,496·20

  Avon Valley School

  15,069·76

  Bridgewater Hall School

  8,328·00

  Brindley Hall School

  1,130·00

  Burntwood School

  32,327·25

  Claremont High School

  12,991·66

  Copeland Community School

  36,720·86

  Desborough School

  1,580·00

  Francis Bacon School

  36,353·00

  Graveney School

  69,687·29

  Greenford High School

  30,475·45

  Hendon School

  26,170·43

  Holy Trinity CE School

  2,344·00

  London Oratory School

  37,010·00

  Moseley Park GM School

  818·00

  Myton School

  19,898·78

  Northampton School

  26,706·00

  Northolt High School

  1,844·25

  Oldfield School

  1,629·00

  Raine's Foundation School

  26,167·00

  Robert Napier School

  395·86

  Small Heath School

  48,068·75

  Southlands School

  11,802·25

  Stratford School

  56,208·53

  TOTAL

  509,222·35

  1993–94

  Ashcroft High School

  1,097·35

  Avon Valley School

  3,878·75

  Beechview School

  2,385·51

  Bridgewater Hall School

  4,329·71

  Burntwood School

  18,780·00

  Copeland Community School

  10,792·00

  Deacons School

  6,489·00

  Greenford High School

  11,574·99

  Greenwood Dale School

  8,647·25

  Hall Green School

  2,355·00

  Hamilton Combined School

  13,695·08

  Hendon School

  9,119·18

  Holy Trinity CE School

  2,318·25

  London Oratory School

  12,570·25

  Northampton School

  6,834·75

  Oldfield School

  1,176·75

  Radcliffe School

  3,467·40

  Raine's Foundation School

  9,014·81

  Robert Napier School

  413·00

  Small Heath School

  16,308·00

  Stratford School

  18,094·43

  Wrenn School

  8,997·14

  TOTAL

  172,338·60

  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of the business plan drawn up by Coopers Lybrand for the Grant-Maintained Schools Centre.

  Mr. Robin Squire
  No. The business plan which Coopers and Lybrand helped prepare covers the full range of activities of the Grant-maintained Schools Centre. More than half these are not grant-aided and the information on them is commercial-in-confidence.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Cereal Stores
  Rev. William McCrea
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the amounts of cereals in storage in each region of the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ancram
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Intervention Board Executive Agency under its chief executive, Guy Stapleton. I have asked him to provide the information requested.

  Letter from Guy Stapleton to Rev. William McCrea, dated November 1993:

  CEREALS IN STORAGE
  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your written Parliamentary Question (1235) tabled for answer on 29 October 1993:—
  "To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what are the amounts of cereals in storage in each region of the United Kingdom."
  The information you request is set out below. All figures are in thousands of tonnes and represent stocks at the end ofSeptember 1993.

  Region1

  Feed-Wheat

  Wheat B

  Barley

  Total

  East

  90

  —

  217

  307

  South West

  10

  —

  157

  167

  Midlands

  17

  1

  392

  410

  North

  35

  —

  172

  207

  England

  152

  1

  938

  1,091

  Scotland

  140

  —

  499

  639

  Total United Kingdom

  292

  1

  1,437

  1,730

  1 HGCA regions of England

  There are no stocks of intervention cereals in Northern Ireland or Wales.

  I am sending a copy of this letter to the House of Commons Library and the Public Information Office.

  Government Offices
  Mr. Peter Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Government offices there are in Northern Ireland.

  Sir John Wheeler
  The number of Government offices in Northern Ireland housing Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland civil service staff is 322.

  Office Costs
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 on rent and other costs associated with the offices of his Department in Whitehall.

  Sir John Wheeler
  A total of £1,060,362.08.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  EC Publications
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many copies of his departmental publication, "The European Community: Facts and Fairytales" have been published; at what cost; to whom and to what organisations it has been distributed(a) within the United Kingdom and (b) abroad; and if he will make a statement on its intended purpose.
  818
  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  A total of 30,000 copies of the booklet "European Community: Facts and Fairytales" have been published so far, at a cost of £10,787. Copies have been sent to Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, United Kingdom MEPs, the media, including in Brussels, chambers of commerce, information offices, consumer organisations, women's associations, EC and EFTA embassies in London, major United Kingdom posts abroad and to all individuals who have asked for copies. Some 16,000 copies have been sent out so far. The booklet is intended to help inform public opinion about the Community and, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in the foreword, to fill in some of the gaps which occur when the facts behind the stories are not explained.

  Korea
  Mr. Parry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in respect of relations between the Republic of Korea and North Korea.

  Mr. Goodlad
  There have been three rounds of talks about talks during October after a period in which the two sides had not met each other. We have been disappointed at the lack of substantive progress. We hope however that North Korea's move at the third round in tabling a draft agreement for the exchange of high-level envoys may signify a willingness on their part to work towards specific progress at a fourth round of talks scheduled for early November.

  Military Exports
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the United Nations report on military exports by country.

  Mr. Douglas Hogg
  This 123-page (A/48/344) report was issued by the United Nations on 11 October. It has been sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by our mission to the United Nations and copies will be distributed to the Library very soon.

  New Embassy, Berlin
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for the construction of a new British embassy building in Berlin.

  Mr. Goodlad
  We propose to open a new embassy in Berlin when the Federal Government move from Bonn. The project is still at pre-planning stages. Issues relating to the site of the pre-war embassy, where Her Majesty the Queen unveiled a plaque in October 1992, and the size of the future embassy, are at present under active consideration.

  Office Costs
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 on rent and other costs associated with the offices of his Department in King Charles street, London.
  819
  Mr. Goodlad
  The main building of the FCO in King Charles street is undergoing major refurbishment extending until early 1997. During this programme approximately one quarter of the building is unoccupied. This is reflected in rent levels, and other costs for 1993–94, which are as follows:

  Running costs

  £

  Rent, including works service charge and rates

  8,195,719

  Maintenance

  475,000

  Furnishings

  700,000

  Unilities

  382,763

  Contract cleaning

  592,200

  10,345,682

  Capital costs

  Refurbishment programme

  11,732,000

  TOTAL

  22,077,682

WALES

  Environmental Education
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines to school inspectors on the identification of good practice in the teaching of environmental education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The statutory responsibility for school inspections rests with Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools in Wales under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 and extended in the Education Act 1993. It is for the chief inspector to issue to school inspectors such guidance on good teaching practice as he considers appropriate.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to require each further and higher education college in Wales to develop an environmental policy and action plan for implementation by the start of the 1994–95 academic year.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  I have no plans to do so at the moment. However, the report of a committee on environmental education in further and higher education was sent to all FHE institutions in Wales in February 1993. This report contained a specific recommendation that, after consultation with its staff and students, every FHE institution should formally adopt and publicise, by the beginning of the academic year 1994–95, a comprehensive environmental policy statement, together with an action plan for its implementation.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to establish a central co-ordinating agency in Wales to encourage environmental education.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  None. However, the Countryside Council for Wales is currently discussing this matter with other interested organisations.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what guidelines he has given to the training and enterprise councils in Wales with respect to accounting conventions to be used in their annual report and accounts as regards(a) income and expenditure, (b) profit and loss account, (c) surplus and retained surplus, (d) gross profit and profit on
  820
  ordinary activities after taxation, (e) turnover, (f) income and (g) chief executive and managing director level appointments and places on the board of such appointees; and if he will make a statement.

  Sir Wyn Roberts
  The annual operating agreement between the Welsh Office and training and enterprise councils, which is available in the Library of the House, requires them to publish an audited statement of accounts. As private limited companies, the training and enterprise councils are subject to the audit requirements of the Companies Act 1985 as to the form and content of these accounts.

  The standard operating agreement also sets out the procedure each training and enterprise council must follow in appointing a chief executive or managing director.

  As private limited companies, the composition of the board of training and enterprise councils is governed by the memorandum and articles of association of each.

  Damp Housing
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the number of houses in Wales affected by dampness, condensation, mould growth or a combination of these.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Estimates from the 1986 Welsh House Conditions Survey show that, 22,500 households had serious mould, 95,700 had rising damp, 150,400 had penetrating damp: no information is available on the number of households with condensation or those with any combination of these factors.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Gareth Wardell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of whether the regional groups of waste regulation authorities are being a adequately funded by their constituent authorities to enable them to fulfil their functions.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The functions and funding of regional groups are matters for constituent authorities to determine.

  Tinworks Site, Treforest
  Dr. Howells
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has to order an immediate investigation of reports of anthrax contamination in buildings formerly used to house large quantities of animal bones for industrial processing at the tinworks site in Treforest, Pontypridd;

  (2) if he will make it his policy that his Department will allow no development on the tinworks site in Treforest, Pontypridd until exhaustive investigations have been completed into reports that the site is contaminated with anthrax spores;

  (3) what plans he has to order an immediate tightening of security arrangements around buildings known as the tinworks site in Pontypridd until such time as investigations are complete into reports that the buildings are contaminated with anthrax spores.

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The issues of development and possible contamination of this site are matters for Taff Ely borough council as the local planning and environmental
  821
  health authority. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State understands the council has made development of the site conditional on a full prior examination of possible contamination. Should evidence of any contamination be revealed, no development would be permitted until appropriate remedial measures were undertaken.

  In terms of the security of the site, my right hon. Friend has been advised that the council are following this, matter up with the developers.

  Office Costs
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 on rent and other costs associated with the offices of his Department in Gwydyr house, Whitehall.

  Mr. Redwood
  Property and operating costs comprising rent, rates, service charge, works, maintenance, utilities, cleaning and security are estimated at £418,000 for Gwydyr house in 1993–94.

  Arable Regionalisation
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for arable regionalisation in Wales.

  Mr. Redwood
  For the 1993–94 scheme year—1994–95 marketing year—I propose that Wales should be split into two regions on a parish by parish basis using the pre-1974 boundaries.

  In region 1, the notional average yield will be 5·93 tonnes per hectare, the same as in England.

  The yield in region 2 will be calculated in such a way as to give an average of 4·65 tonnes per hectare over Wales as a whole.

  A parish will be included in region 1 if:
  it contains land suitable for growing winter cereals according to parameters defined by the Soil Survey and Land Research Centre; and
  an average of at least 50 hectares of wheat and winter barley was grown in the parish in the three years in 1989–91.

  I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the report prepared for my Department by the Soil Survey and Land Research Centre along with a list of the parishes that fulfil the above criteria according to Welsh Office records based on the location of holdings. However, if it can be demonstrated by documentary evidence that a parish in which on average 50 or more hectares of wheat and winter barley was grown in 1989–91 is not included in my region 1 list and if the parish also fulfils the land suitability criteria, I will add it to region 1.

  My officials will be writing to all cereal farmers in Wales giving details of the arrangements I am proposing. I am also inviting the views of industry representatives on them. Any comments on this proposal or representations on additions to region 1 should be made to my Department by 17 December.

  Welsh Language Board
  Mr. Richards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce the members of the statutory Welsh Language Board.

  Sir Wyn Roberts: The names of the members, to be formally appointed on 21 December 1993, are as follows:

  Lord Elis-Thomas (Chairman)

  Dr. Gareth Roberts

  822

  Ms Men Huws

  Mr. Godfrey Williams

  Miss Gwerfyl Pierce Jones

  Dr. Patrick Thomas

  Mr. Geraint Price Thomas

  Dr. Medwin Hughes

  Dr. Neil Caldwell

  Mr. Gwilym Owen

  Mr. Richard John Edwards

  Mr. Gwyn Griffiths

  Mr. Edward Rea

  Mr. Ron Jones

  Mrs. Elan Closs Stephens

NATIONAL HERITAGE

  Angling
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate he has made of the Sports Council grant available during the current financial year to the sport of angling, expressed in terms per capita of those participating actively in the sport.

  Mr. Brooke
  Sports Council grant for angling for the current financial year is not yet known. In 1992–93 Sports Council grants to the governing bodies of angling was £46,800, a sum of 1·7p on a per capita basis for the 2·7 million adults actively participating in the sport.

  Canoeing
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate he has made of the grant available from the Sports Council and other public bodies in support of canoeing, expressed in terms per capita of those participating actively in this sport.

  Mr. Brooke
  In 1992–93 canoeing received grant of £344,426 from the Sports Council and a further £2,000 in awards from the Sportsmatch scheme. In total, this amounted to £3.46 per capita for those 100,000 actively participating in the sport.

  Moated Granges
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list for the last 10 years the archaeological moated grange sites that have been demolished in England and Wales.

  Mr. Brooke
  This information is not readily available for England.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for archaeological matters in Wales.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list archaeological moated grange sites that are due to be lost because of planning permission approval being granted.

  Mr. Brooke
  This information is not readily available.

ENVIRONMENT

  Stoke Council (Ombudsman's Report)
  Sir David Knox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding Stoke city council's refusal to implement the
  823
  recommendations contained in the report of the local government ombudsman, reference 90/B/1928; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Curry
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations. This is a matter between the city council and the local government ombudsman. The Government have, however, made it clear that if local authorities continue to ignore the findings of the ombudsman, steps will be taken to make the ombudsman's recommendations legally enforceable.

  Oxford University (Pollution Allegations)
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the results of the investigation carried out recently by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution into alleged offences under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 at Oxford university; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The investigation concluded that alleged offences by Oxford university, under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960, were not proven. Limits and conditions within the authorisations granted to the University by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution had not been breached. The inspectorate will continue to pay close attention to radioactive waste management operations at Oxford university and will always investigate any complaints.

  Sour Gas
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has carried out into the(a) toxicity and (b) inflammability of sour gas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  The properties of sour gas are well known, and no research has been considered necessary by my Department.

  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the power stations in England and Wales which have been authorised to use sour gas; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Yeo
  No power stations in England and Wales have been authorised to burn sour gas.

  Member

  Sector/Expertise

  Position

  Dr. Elizabeth Nelson (Chairman)

  Market research

  Former Chairman of Taylor Nelson A. G. B. plc

  Professor Roland Clift

  Environmental Science

  Professor of Environmental Technology and Director of the Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey

  Ms Anne Foster

  Consumer affairs

  Director of the Scottish Consumer Council

  Ms Julia Hailes

  Environmental consultancy

  Director of Sustainability Ltd, author of "Green Consumer guide"

  Dr Keith Humphreys

  Manufacturing

  Chairman and Managing Director, Rhone-Poulenc Ltd.

  Ms Pippa Hyam

  Environmental consultancy

  Senior Associate, PDA International

  Mrs. Harriet Kimbell

  Consumer affairs and Law

  Consumer lawyer and law lecturer.

  Mr. Kenneth Miles

  Advertising

  Director General, Incorporated Society of British Advertisers Ltd.

  Miss Jyoti Munsiff

  Law

  Company Secretary, Shell Transport and Trading

  Mr. Derek Norman

  Manufacturing

  Director of Environmental Affairs, Pilkington plc

  Dr Richard Pugh

  Retailing

  Director, Tesco plc

  Mr. Lew Scott

  Manufacturing

  Manufacturing Director Hoover, Ltd.

  Miss Catherine Whitehead

  Trading Standards

  County Trading Standards Officer, Staffordshire County Council

  Mr. Nigel Whitaker

  Retailing

  Executive Director Kingfisher, plc

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to require that all staff operating incineration plants in the United Kingdom are in receipt of formal qualifications by the year 1997.

  Mr. Yeo
  No.

  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to produce periodic revised guidelines on pollution control standards in incineration plants to reflect best available technology.

  Mr. Yeo
  The guidance notes which the Secretary of State and the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution have published, regarding best available techniques for controlling polluting releases from incinerators, will be reviewed at least every four years.

  Ecolabelling Board
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to change the balance of interests represented by the composition of the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board.

  Mr. Yeo
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to change the range of expertise originally available on the board. However, following the resignation of Miss Tessa Robertson in the summer, we are considering how to replace the expertise she brought to the board, in particular, her knowledge of the views of environmental nongovernmental organisations. I hope we will be able to make an announcement shortly.

  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board showing what sector or company they come from.

  Mr. Yeo
  The members of the United Kingdom Ecolabelling Board are appointed in a personal capacity and not as representatives of their organisations. They bring with them expertise in a range of relevant fields. The current Chairman and members are:

  Asylum
  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list those authorities which have accepted(a) more than 200, (b) 150 to 199, (c) 100 to 149 and (d) 50 to 99 asylum-seeking or refugee households in the last year;

  (2) what is the estimated average cost of housing a refugee and asylum-seeking family of four in (a) local authority temporary accommodation and (b) local authority permanent accommodation in (i) the London borough of Westminster, (ii) Birmingham, (iii) Manchester and (iv) Uttlesford;

  (3) how many refugees or asylum seekers were provided with (a) local authority temporary accommodation, (b) local authority permanent accommodation and (c) private sector accommodation in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

  Sir George Young
  In the year ending 30 June 1993, 13 local authorities in England reported accepting responsibility to secure permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 for 50 or more households where the reason for the loss of their last settled home was "refugee or asylum seeker". The authorities concerned and the numbers accepted are set out in the table. Other authorities which did not provide returns for all quarters may also have accepted 50 or more refugees or asylum seekers.

  50 to 99 acceptances

  100 to 149 acceptances

  150 or more acceptances

  Brent

  Camden

  None

  Enfield

  Lambeth

  Greenwich

  Hackney1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Harrow

  Hounslow

  Kensington and Chelsea1

  Newham

  Waltham Forest

  Westminster

  1 Based on returns covering nine months only.

  Source: Quarterly PIE returns.

  Information is not available centrally, and my Department has no estimates, on the types of accommodation provided to refugees and asylum seekers, nor on the average costs of housing them.

  Dr. Twinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how the costs to local authorities of rehousing refugees and asylum seekers are reflected in the standard spending assessment calculaltions.

  Mr. Baldry
  The costs of rehousing refugees and asylum seekers are reflected through the use of information about the numbers of pupils, estimates of the resident population, the numbers of children of income support claimants and the social characteristics of local areas as measured by the latest population census. Authorities where refugees and asylum seekers tend to concentrate have above average standard' spending assessmentts to reflect these and other unusual spending pressures.

  The review of standard spending assessments for 1994–95 has considered the relevance of including an indicator of homelessness in addition to incorporating 1991 census information. This would be of some benefit to
  826
  local authorities where refugees and asylum seekers qualify for permanent housing. Work on the review has now finished and my right hon. Friend will announce the outcome later in the autumn as part of his proposals for revenue support grant for 1994–95.

  Tributyl Tin
  Mr. Dafis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been conducted by his Department on the effect of tributyl tin used as an anti-fouling marine biocide on ship hulls upon the marine environment with particular reference to the shellfish population.

  Mr. Yeo
  My Department funded research into the impact of tributyl tin—TBT—on dog whelks,Nucella lapillus, which exhibit effects at very low concentrations. This led to such effects being used as a biological indicator for a survey of TBT in the North sea reported upon in 1992. Current research is using the biological indicator to monitor recovery of the marine environment since the 1987 ban on TBT use on vessels of less than 25 m long and in assessing the implications of TBT use on vessels over 25 m.

  Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress achieved in the design and construction of the intermediate level radioactive waste conditioning plant at Harwell; and when it will become operational.

  Mr. Eggar
  I have been asked to reply.

  The main structure of the intermediate level waste vault store at Harwell has now been completed to schedule and below budget. Delivery and installation of plant and equipment is proceeding to programme. The store is on schedule to commence operation in 1996.

  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what request he has made to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee for the committee to advise on the validity of calculation methods for radiation doses in regard to radioactive waste management.

  Mr. Yeo
  The committee has been asked to give its views on the usefulness of collective dose assessments and the validity of presenting such impacts in terms of numbers of fatalities.

  Water Charges (Prepayment)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment with which water companies the Office of Water Services has had discussions over the installation of prepayment devices.

  Mr. Yeo
  This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services.

  Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which Governments of European Community member states responded to the second public consultation period for the thermal oxide reprocessing
  827
  plant at Sellafield; and if he will indicate whether their submission was for or against THORP being commissioned.

  Mr. Yeo
  Responses to the consultation are still being assessed. Detailed information about the responses will be made available once they have all been considered.

  Water Quality
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to seek a review of the EC water quality directive.

  Mr. Yeo
  As part of its programme of work following the Edinburgh summit, the European Commission is already reviewing the drinking water directive—80/778/ EEC—and should make its recommendations next year. We have already made clear to the Commission the changes that we believe are required.

  Standard Spending Assessments
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consideration he is giving in his review of standard spending assessments to include as factors(a) unemployment, (b) health indicators, in particular standard morbidity rates, and (c) disability indicators;

  (2) what plans he has to measure economic deprivation as part of his review of the standard spending assessment system; and what alternative measures he has so far considered in this regard;

  (3)what conclusions he has reached on representations made to him concerning the use of health variables as a reflection of the differing social needs of an area, in place of the measures currently used;

  (4)what conclusions he has reached on representations he has received concerning the extent to which the weighting within the current standards spending assessment system placed on the very elderly discriminates against those areas which have significant health problems but in which industrial traditions have lead to deaths at an earlier age.

  Housing investment programme (HIP) allocations12 by area

  £thousand

  1979–80

  1982–83

  1985–86

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Non Metropolitan D.C.

  1,009,252

  958,581

  690,813

  525,707

  426,030

  847,373

  847,477

  818,398

  865,132

  County Councils3

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Metropolitan D.C.

  648,540

  602,396

  427,151

  377,511

  339,386

  502,755

  485,552

  460,156

  492,922

  London Boroughs4

  885,894

  630,241

  487,083

  427,141

  329,244

  538,164

  527,396

  547,553

  561,412

  City of London

  706

  720

  417

  281

  214

  708

  668

  605

  679

  England

  2,544,392

  2,191,938

  1,605,463

  1,330,640

  1,094,874

  1,889,000

  1,861,093

  1,826,712

  1,920,145

  1 Allocations for the years up to and including 1989–90 are final allocations, ie the initial allocation plus any increases to the initial allocation made in-year. The allocations figures for 1990–91 and subsequent years are the HIP allocations (housing annual capital guidelines plus specified capital grants) issued prior to the start of the financial year. These figures do not include any supplementary credit approvals issued during the year.

  2 From 1990–91, under the new capital finance system, the HIP allocation is an assessment of relative need for housing capital expenditure rather than a directly borrowing approval. Borrowing approval is now conveyed by the single, all service, basic credit approval.

  3 County councils are not allocated any monies through the Housing Investment Programme as they have no housing stock.

  4 Allocations for the Greater London Council up to and including 1985–86 are included in the figures for the London boroughs.

  828
  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: The review of standards spending assessments has considered a wide range of issues including the potential use of indicators of health, disability, unemployment, homelessness and economic deprivation. The underlying statistical analysis has been discussed in detail with the local authority associations. Work on the review has now finished and my right hon. Friend will announce the outcome of the review later in the autumn as part of his proposals for revenue support grant for 1994–95.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will as part of the standard spending assessment review consider incorporating factors which are of direct relevance to service provision rather than factors which are proxies for real needs.

  Mr. Baldry
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: The calculation of standard spending assessments uses factors which are considered to be relevant to the provision of the service in question and cannot be directly influenced by local policy decisions. Inevitably this means that in a number of cases it is necessary to use factors which act as proxies for the underlying need to spend. The review of standard spending assessments has considered the incorporation of 1991 census data and the relevance of existing and other possible new factors.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the national total of capital allocations for housing to local authorities in England for(a) 1979–80, (b) 1982–83, (c) 1985–86 and (d) each year since 1988–89; and if he will give the breakdown of the total between (i) non-metropolitan district councils, (ii) county councils, (iii) metropolitan district councils, (iv) London boroughs and (v) the City of London.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: Information on housing investment programme allocations is given in the table. The figures for 1990–91 and subsequent years are not directly comparable with those for earlier years because of the revisions to the capital finance system introduced in April 1990.

  Water Disconnections
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many households have been disconnected from their water supply for non-payment of sewerage charges each year since privatisation.
  829
  Mr. Yeo
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: Condition H of the instrument of appointment of each water or water and sewerage undertaker states that disconnection of a water supply can only be made for the non-payment of charges due to the water undertaker for the supply of water.

  Capital Allocations
  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the regional total of capital allocations for housing to the local authorities in England for(a) 1979–80, (b) 1982–83, (c) 1985–86 and (d) each year since 1988–89 for each standard English region.

  Housing Investment Programme (HIP) allocations12 by standard statistical region

  £ thousand

  Statistical region

  1979–80

  1982–83

  1985–86

  1988–89

  1989–90

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  North (including Cumbria)

  180,000

  145,740

  92,060

  85,019

  72,469

  112,587

  111,920

  103,243

  116,867

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  216,000

  214,813

  140,326

  123,706

  106,288

  171,199

  169,217

  162,516

  179,570

  East Midlands

  159,872

  152,916

  96,812

  72,983

  60,687

  104,420

  111,815

  117,693

  128,238

  East Anglia

  57,414

  65,351

  53,093

  34,443

  26,394

  61,446

  61,506

  58,666

  54,969

  Greater London

  886,600

  630,961

  487,500

  427,422

  329,458

  538,872

  528,064

  548,158

  562,091

  South East (excluding London)

  338,075

  299,516

  237,092

  163,716

  122,805

  297,616

  285,156

  265,778

  280,645

  South West

  125,000

  138,691

  101,021

  79,033

  62,319

  153,269

  155,399

  140,473

  145,607

  West Midlands

  248,000

  204,601

  165,767

  142,301

  127,808

  198,040

  204,137

  201,916

  204,557

  North West (excluding Cumbria)

  333,431

  339,349

  231,792

  202,017

  186,647

  251,551

  233,879

  228,269

  247,601

  England

  2,544,392

  2,191,938

  1,605,463

  1,330,640

  1,094,874

  1,889,000

  1,861,093

  1,826,712

  1,920,145

  Notes:

  1 Allocations for the years up to and including 1989–90 are final allocations, ie the initial allocation plus any increases to the initial allocation made in-year. The allocations figures for 1990–91 and subsequent years are the HIP allocations (housing annual capital guidelines plus specific capital grants) issued prior to the start of the financial year. These figures do not include any supplementary credit approvals issued during the year.

  2 From 1990–91, under the new capital finance system, the HIP allocation is an assessment of relative need for housing capital expenditure rather than a directly borrowing approval. Borrowing approval is now conveyed by the single, all service, basic credit approval.

  Mr. Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the capital allocation for housing for each local authority in England for(a) 1979–80, (b) 1982–83, (c) 1985–86 and (d) each year since 1988–89.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: Information on housing investment programme allocations since 1978–79 for each local authority in England is available in the Library of the House.

  Housing, Lancashire
  Mr.Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number and value of home improvement grants paid to private owners and for tenanted properties, in Lancashire since 1989.

  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 22 October 1993]: Information about the total number and value of home improvement grants paid in Lancashire is shown in the table.

  Home improvement grants paid: number and amount of grants:

  Lancashire1

  Grants paid under the Housing Act 1985

  Grants paid under the Local Government and Housing Act 19892

  Financial year

  Number

  Amount(£000s)

  Number

  Amount(£000s)

  1989–90

  3,721

  13,813

  —

  —

  1990–91

  2,929

  12,213

  231

  808

  1991–92

  897

  4,294

  1,848

  14,201

  1992–93

  78

  571

  2,401

  22,413

  1 Including estimated figures for local authorities not providing statistical returns about home improvement grants.

  830
  Sir George Young
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: Information on housing investment programme allocations is given in the table. The figures for 1990–91 and subsequent years are not directly comparable with those for earlier years because of the revisions to the capital finance system introduced in April 1990.

  2 Includes mandatory and discretionary grants; covers renovation grants, disabled facilities grants, HMO grants and common parts grants; excludes minor works assistance.

  The available information about the numbers of grants paid to owner occupiers and paid for tenanted properties is shown in the table. Figures about the amount of grant paid to each group are not available.

  Number of grants paid: by group receiving grant: Lancashire:

  (a)Grants paid under the Housing Act 19851

  number

  Financial Year

  Owner occupiers grants

  Other grants

  Total grants

  1989–90

  3,101

  620

  3,721

  1 This information was not collected after 1989–90.

  (b)Grants paid under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989

  number

  Financial Year

  Owner occupier grants

  Other grants

  Total grants

  1990–91

  182

  49

  231

  1991–92

  1,696

  152

  1,848

  2 The information for 1992–93 is currently in preparation and is not yet available.

  Leasehold Reform
  Mr. Raynsford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the advisory service for leaseholders seeking to enfranchise or extend their lease under the provisions of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 to come into operation.

  Sir George Young
  [pursuant to his reply, 19 October 1993]: The Government have been ready to provide a contribution to the costs of an advisory service since the Act received Royal Assent on 20 July, through the special grants programme. Normally up to 50 per cent. of the cost can be met by public funds.

  A formal bid was received on 7 October. This showed a low level of initial contributions from private sector bodies, many of whom might expect to be closely involved in the enfranchisement procedures. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment has, therefore, written to a number of institutions seeking further support before final decisions are made about the agency's budget.

  I remain confident that the service will be in operation very soon. In the meantime, there is a considerable effort being put into disseminating information about the new legislation. My Department has issued 60,000 leaflets so far, and demand remains high. Several books are being published, and a number of solicitors and valuers have published their own guides. Several conferences are also being organised, in which my Department is playing a full part.

SCOTLAND

  Government Offices
  Sir Nicholas Fairbairn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the(a) original estimated cost and (b) actual cost of (i) the new courts and offices in Parliament house, Edinburgh, (ii) the proposed new Scottish Office building in Leith and (iii) the cost of moving thereto and moving other Government Departments into the offices so vacated in St. Andrew's house.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 25 October 1993]: The estimated cost at tender stage of the extension to Parliament house was £14·16 million. The estimated final cost is in the range £15·5 million to £16 million. This takes account of inflationary costs allowed under the contract, covers significant foundation difficulties experienced during construction and an increase in VAT during the contract, and includes an allowance for a contractual claim which is under negotiation with the main contractor.

  The new building for the Scottish Office in Leith is being acquired by Property Holdings from the developers for a fixed price of £47·5 million. The rental which the Scottish Office will pay to Property Holdings for the new building will represent a saving on rental payable on three buildings which are being given up including New St. Andrew's house, which is being vacated because of the widespread incidence of asbestos there.

  The capital costs associated with the new building which will fall to the Scottish Office cover occupational
  832
  service works and furniture and are estimated at £9·8 million. The cost of moving staff from existing buildings to the new building is estimated to be £0·1 million.

  Lost Working Days
  Mrs. Fyfe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of working days lost due to(a) ill health, (b) industrial injuries and (c) industrial action for each year since 1988.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 27 October 1993]: The number of working days lost as a result of ill health and industrial injury is not available for Scotland. The number of days lost in Scotland in each year since 1988 as a result of industrial action is set out in the table:

  Number of days lost in Scotland as a result of industrial action

  Year

  Number

  1988

  205,000

  1989

  541,000

  1990

  122,000

  1991

  121,000

  1992

  55,000

  Overseas Staff and Premises
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost for the current financial year to his Department of having(a) premises and (b) personnel overseas; and what were the comparable figures for (a) 12, (b) 24, (c) 36 and (d) 48 months ago.

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 27 October 1993]: My Department has no premises overseas. The cost to my Department of having personnel overseas is expected to be around £317,000 in the current financial year and was £230,000 in 1992–93. Details are not available for previous years.

  Strategic Land Use
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his proposals for strategic land use planning following the reform of local government in Scotland.

  Mr. Stewart
  [holding answer 28 October 1993]: Our proposals are set out in paragraphs 3·18–20 of "Shaping the Future—The New Councils" (Cm. 2267).

  Office Costs
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 on rent and other costs associated with the offices of his Department at Dover house, Whitehall.

  Mr. Lang
  The estimated cost, including fuel and utilities and maintenance, for Dover house for 1993–94 is £956,982.

  Severely Disadvantaged Areas
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers were in receipt of hill livestock compensatory allowances in the severely disadvantaged areas according to the most recent figures for each year since 1978.
  833
  Sir Hector Monro
  The number of farmers in receipt of hill and livestock compensatory allowances in the severely disadvantaged areas in each year since 1978 is set out in the table.

  Year

  Number of Farmers

  1978

  19,802

  1979

  19,485

  1980

  19,198

  1981

  19,072

  1982

  18,760

  1983

  18,610

  1984

  18,343

  1985

  18,203

  1986

  17,889

  1987

  17,852

  1988

  17,768

  1989

  17,630

  1990

  17,537

  1991

  17,403

  1992

  17,260

  11993

  16,827

  1 to date.

  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many producers are entitled to hill livestock compensatory allowances; and what proportion of those are located in(a) severely disadvantaged areas arid (b) disadvantaged areas.

  Sir Hector Monro
  Based on the 1992 HLCA scheme, the latest complete scheme for which figures are available, of 17,893 claims received 17,260 were from producers located in severely disadvantaged areas and 633 from producers located in disadvantaged areas.

  Ewe and Suckler Cow Premiums
  Dr. Strang
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the figures relating to 1993 for the value of the ewe premium and suckler cow premium per head distinguishing the value of any supplements if applicable.

  Sir Hector Monro
  The rate of sheep annual premium in Scotland for the 1993 marketing year is fixed only after the end of the year. To date, European Commission regulations provide for payments of two advances totalling £.12·55 per eligible ewe and a supplement in less favoured areas of £5·16 per eligible ewe. The final rate of premium and supplement due will be fixed by the Commission in spring 1994.

  The 1993 suckler cow premium rate per head in Scotland is £65·73. In addition a payment of £28·17 per head can be made if the stocking density on a holding is less than 1·4 livestock units per hectare of eligible forage area.

HEALTH

  Community Care
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial provision she intends for community care.

  Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
  I announced last year that the special community care transitional grant to local social services authorities in England would be 834
  £716 million for 1994–95 and £618 million for 1995–96. The grant will be increased by £20 million to £736 million in 1994–95 and by £30 million to £648 million in 1995–96. These increases will help local social services authorities to arrange for more home care and respite care. The special transitional grant is additional to the resources in general local government settlements which will be announced in due course. The grant will be phased out in 1996–97. In that year a further £418 million will be made available to local social services authorities to reflect the continued development of their community care responsibilities. The cumulative extra finance then available for local authorities' new community care responsibilities will exceed £2·2 billion in England.

  Hospital Services
  Ms Primarolo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the new services that have been provided by the increase in the hospital and community services budget in each of the last three years.

  Mr. Sackville
  Government spending on hospital and community health services has risen by 13·8 per cent. in real terms since 1990–91. Over this period there have been significant improvements in the level and quality of services provided to patients. General and acute activity is forecast to be 16 per cent. higher this year than in 1990–91. Since December 1992, no patient in the regions has been waiting longer than two years for in-patient or day case treatment, compared with 51,053 at March 1991. The patients charter has raised the standard of services for patients. The national health service has at the same time taken forward the "Health of the Nation" strategy for preventing premature death and avoidable ill health. With local authorities, health authorities and trusts have successfully introduced our community care reforms, which are designed to provide more flexible and local services to people in the community. We shall continue to build on this progress and improve services still further.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what collaborative studies her Department has conducted with the authorities of the United States on risks from inhalation of depleted uranium dust particles.

  Mr. Sackville
  None.

  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the waiting time for hospital in-patient treatment in each of the regional health authorities which cover the Greater London area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information requested is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England". The latest published figures are for March 1993 and are available in the Library. The Greater London area is covered by the figures for the four Thames regional health authorities.

  Junior Doctors
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of junior doctors are currently working more than their contracted hours.
  835
  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made as to the implications for the health service of the EC 48-hour working week directive with particular reference to junior doctors; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The directive on working time has not yet been adopted finally by the European Community Council. However, at the start of negotiations, an assessment was made of the impact of the proposals on the working arrangements of junior doctors within the health service in the light of existing initiatives. On the basis of this assessment we obtained an exclusion from the draft directive for doctors in training.

  Abortion
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total cost to the NHS of termination of pregnancy operations in England and Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what proportion of total NHS expenditure this represented; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the previous five years.

  Mr. Sackville
  The annual cost to the national health service of termination of pregnancy is not available centrally. The cost of this treatment varies according to factors such as gestation and length of stay. The estimated average cost of a surgical abortion in a NHS hospital is £140 for a day case and £270 for a straightforward in-patient case, at 1990–91 figures. In 1991, there were 54,602 residents of England and Wales treated in the NHS on a day care basis and 20,570 as in-patients.

  Food Safety Law Enforcement
  Sir Cranley Onslow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times since the Food Safety Act 1990 came into force his Department has investigated cases where there has been a suggestion that the law has been applied in an over-zealous way by a local authority; and with what results.

  Mr. Sackville
  The Department started keeping a record of investigations in 1992. Of the 32 cases it has investigated the Department considered eight complaints to be justified. During 1992 the total number of hygiene inspections and other visits carried out under the Food Safety Act 1990 was 542,855.

  Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner, Greenwich
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who authorised the payment by South-East Thames regional health authority of a deposit for the purchase of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner; for what purpose and on what date; whether the deposit was refundable or non-refundable; on what date Greenwich Healthcare Trust agreed to purchase the scanner and pay the balance of the costs; on what date Greenwich Healthcare Trust took delivery of the scanner; and on what date it was brought into operational use.

  Mr. Sackville
  The purchase of equipment to support health care is a matter for managers and clinicians in trust 836
  hospitals; for the remaining directly managed units it is the responsibility of health authorities. The hon. member may wish to write to the chairman of the Greenwich Healthcare Trust, Mr. Neville Thompson, about the financing and installation of medical equipment at the Brook and Greenwich hospitals.

  Bed Closures and Cancelled Operations
  Mr. Austin-Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give details of the number of beds closed and operations cancelled for financial reasons since 1 January for each of the district health authorities for England.

  Mr. Sackville
  This information is not available centrally.

  NHS Management
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral statement of 21 October,Official Report, columns 398–400, on managing the new NHS, what mechanisms will be established to enable the new regional offices to monitor and promote sub-regional equity.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Following the proposed abolition of regional health authorities, the allocation of resources to district health authorities, family health services authorities and general practitioner fundholders would be handled by the National Health Service Management Executive, of which the regional offices will be part, within the policies and financial strategy set by Ministers.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral statement of 21 October,Official Report, columns 398–400, on managing the new NHS, (1) how the regional function related to the implementation of the "The Health of the Nation" strategy will be managed;

  (2) how the regional research and development function will be managed;

  (3) how the regional clinical audit function will be managed.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The main functions carried out in the national health service above the level of purchasers and providers are described in the background document "Managing the new NHS", copies of which are available in the Library. The detailed allocation of functions to the NHS Management Executive headquarters and regional offices, and the arrangements for discharging those functions, have not yet been decided. The Government remain committed to the "Health of the Nation" strategy, the research and development strategy and the development of clinical audit.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions she intends to take to enable the NHS Management Executive to take on a clearer identity as the headquarters of the national health service.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The National Health Service Management Executive is to be streamlined and reorganised to include eight regional offices, each headed by a regional director. This will focus it on the key functions which it needs to perform as the headquarters of the NHS, with a strategic rather than operational role. Work will be undertaken to define clearly the respective roles and responsibilities of the NHS Management Executive and the wider Department of Health.
  837
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her latest estimate of the number of NHS staff who will be made redundant as a result of the proposed abolition of regional health authorities and NHS Management Executive outposts; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  No estimate has been made. Future manpower requirements for the National Health Service Management Executive will be determined in the light of the functions which are to be discharged by the headquarters and the regional offices.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guarantees of terms of employment she intends to implement for NHS staff transferring from regional health authorities to other NHS bodies.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Our intention is that, so far as the law allows, all staff who transfer from regional health authorities to other national health service bodies will have their terms of employment determined as though the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 apply. This will mean that staff transferring will generally be able to preserve their continuity of service in the NHS. Staff who transfer between health authorities in the circumstances provided by the NHS (Transfer of Officers Regulations) (No. 2) Regulations, 1986 are already assured of continuity of service.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a table showing how many national health service trusts fall into(a) band 1, (b) band 2 and (c) band 3 according to unit turnover.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Health gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 23 February at columns 550–55.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral statement of 21 October,Official Report, columns 398–400, on the new NHS, what role she is planning for community health councils within the new NHS structure; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Community health councils have an important role in representing, from an independent viewpoint, the voice of individuals and communities, and this will continue. Arrangements for the establishment and funding of community health councils after the proposed abolition of regional health authorities will be discussed with representatives of the Association of Community Health Councils of England and Wales as legislation is prepared.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral statement of 21 October,Official Report, columns 398–400, on managing the new NHS, what plans she has to ensure (a) that a public health function remains at the intermediate tier and (b) that those succeeding regional directors of public health retain their ability to make independent statements.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The background document "Managing the New NHS", which provides further information in support of the decisions announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 21 October,838
  states that the major public health responsibilities currently undertaken by regional health authorities will be incorporated in the regional offices of the National Health Service Management Executive, and that the professional accountability for public health issues will remain unaltered. Copies of the background document are available in the Library.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations were received by those conducting the NHS functions and manpower review from representatives of community health councils.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  None. The deputy chief executive of the National Health Service Management Executive discussed issues relating to the functions and manpower review at a meeting with representatives of the Association of Community Health Councils of England and Wales in September.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will publish a table showing how many family health service authorities fall into(a) band 1, (b) band 2 and (c) band 3 according to the population of the area covered by the authority;

  (2) if she will publish a table showing how many district health authorities fall into (a) band 1, (b) band 2 and (c) band 3 according to revenue budget.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  This information is not available centrally.

  Fact-finding Trips
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with officials from(a) Worcester royal infirmary or (b) Worcester district health authority regarding levels of expenditure within the district on fact-finding trips.

  Mr. Sackville
  None. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of Worcester and district health authority, Mr. Prescott, for details.

  Read Coding
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation has been made of the ability of Read coding to map to other classification systems.

  Mr. Sackville
  A report published in 1988 by the joint computing group of the Royal College of General Practitioners and the General Medical Services Committee of the British Medical Association1, confirmed that the Read codes were compatible with the World Health Organisation's International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death (ninth revision) (Injuries and Causes of Death-9), and with the Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedures produced by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS).

  In 1992 the Read codes were the subject of a report produced by the OPCS diagnostic support service2. This is the World Health Organisation's London collaborating centre for the classification of diseases. The report described an exercise to validate the cross-referencing of the Read codes to ICD-9. The report's recommendations have now been implemented.

  Copies of both reports will be placed in the Library.
  839
  1 "The Classification of General Practice Data": GMSCRCGP Joint Computing Group Technical Working Party. JCG 20 1987–88.

  2 "Report on the Validation of the Cross-Referencing of NHSCCC-5 Codes to ICD-9": OPCS Diagnostic Support Service and WHO London Collaborating Centre for the Classification of Diseases.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who owns the intellectual property rights to the Read codes.

  Mr. Sackville
  The intellectual property rights to the Read codes were purchased on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health in 1990 thereby making the Read codes Crown copyright.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the NHS will have the appropriate analytic and interpretive skills to make use of Read codes.

  Mr. Sackville
  The analytical and interpretive skills to use Read codes are no different from those currently exercised by clinicians, clinical coders and others in using other coding and classification systems.

  However, the National Health Service Management Executive's information management group will be providing training packages in the use of Read codes, tailored to the needs of various professional groups in the NHS.

  The specialty working groups developing Read codes are keeping clinicians informed: within the last 18 months they have produced over 100 publications and given 200 presentations.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the National Health Service Management Executive regarding the use of Read codes within the national health service.

  Mr. Sackville
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has agreed with the National Health Service Management Executive that, with the acknowledged support of the medical profession, it should promote and facilitate the use of Read codes within the NHS.

  The NHS Management Executive's information management and technology strategy, launched by Ministers in December 1992, has the Read codes as one of its key elements. Copies of the strategy are available in the Library.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the financial terms under which the clinical coding centre at Loughborough was taken into ownership by the NHS.

  Mr. Sackville
  The national health service for coding and classification was created following the purchase in 1990 of the intellectual property rights for the Read codes. The financial terms of the purchase are commercially confidential.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial arrangements exist for national health service organisations and others wishing to adopt the Read coding system.

  Mr. Sackville
  A recent executive letter, EL(93)87, copies of which are available in the Library, has announced 840
  changes in the forms of Read code licence now available to secondary care users in the national health service. Licences are available for individual providers, groups of providers and for all secondary care users within the NHS regions, at increasing levels of discount.

  At present a different mechanism applies to general medical practitioners. The suppliers of GP computer systems pay a licence fee in order to include Read codes in their systems: that cost is recovered in the charges paid by GPs to use one of those systems.

  Medical Records
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to guarantee the confidentiality of medical records; and if she will make a statement.

  Mr. Sackville
  The confidentiality of personal health information is protected by the common law, the ethical obligations of health professionals and, where the information is held in computerised form, by provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984.

  The National Health Service Management Executive issued guidance in September 1992, EL(92)60, which advised the NHS of the need to secure the confidentiality of personal information in the context of contracting, and which also reminded the NHS of the importance of safeguarding the security of its information systems. In addition, the Department plans to issue for consultation draft guidance to the NHS on the confidentiality, use and disclosure of personal health information. Copies of the guidance, EL(92)60, are available in the Library.

  NHS Policy Board
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the full membership of the present NHS Policy Board, with the professional status of each member.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is as follows:

  The Rt. Hon. Virginia Bottomley, JP, MP

  Secretary of State for Health (Chairman)

  Sir Roy Griffiths

  Company Director (Deputy Chairman)

  Mr. John Bowis Esq., OBE, MP

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

  Dr. Kenneth Calman

  Chief Medical Officer

  Professor Cyril Chantler

  Professor in Paediatric Nephrology

  Sir Tim Chessells

  Businessman and Accountant

  The Baroness Cumberlege, CBE

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

  Mr. Peter Gummer

  PLC Chairman and Chief Executive

  Mr. Graham Hart

  Permanent Secretary, Department of Health

  Ms Kate Jenkins

  Independent Management Consultant

  Dr. Brian Mawhinney, MP

  Minister of State for Health

  Ms Sheila Masters

  Chartered Accountant

  Mrs. Yvonne Moores

  Chief Nursing Officer

  Sir Duncan Nichol

  Chief Executive, NHS Management Executive

  The Hon. Tom Sackville, MP

  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

  Oral Health
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to announce details of her Department's proposed oral health strategy.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  In due course.

  Prescriptions
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmacies in(a) Pendle, (b) Lancashire, (c) the north-west and (d) England dispense fewer than 1,700 prescriptions per month.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The information is shown in the table:

  Total number of pharmacies

  Dispensing less than 1,700 per month

  Per cent.

  Pendle

  18

  3

  17·0

  Lancashire

  303

  35

  12·0

  North West

  838

  94

  11·0

  England

  9,763

  1,790

  18

  Notes:

  i. "Pendle" comprises the postcodes BB8 and BB9 covering Colne, Barnoldswick, Earby, Nelson. Bierfield, Trauden, Bartley. This information was obtained from the Public Enquiry Office at the House of Commons and Lancashire Family Health Services Authority.

  ii. Lancashire as per the FHSA area.

  iii. North West as per the North Western Regional Health Authority.

  iv. The source of the prescription data is Table C20 from the Prescription Pricing Authority, and includes pharmacies that operated throughout the 1992–93 financial year with closures excluded and new openers annualised. New openers' prescription numbers are "annualised" using raising factors. A factor of 12 was applied to get an approximate monthly figure.

  Dental Services, London
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had in the last six months regarding the availability of hospital dental and orthodontic services within the London area.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  The London implementation group, which was established to report to Ministers on progress in carrying forward policies to improve London's health services, has met the British Dental Association, the Eastman dental hospital and the Institute of Dental Health to discuss the provision of dental services, including hospital services, in the London area. The London implementation group is now considering the need to examine the provision of these services in more detail.

  Regional Policy Board
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria will be used in the selection of the eight regional policy board members whose appointment she announced on 21 October.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 27 October at column 695.

  East Yorkshire DHA
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the contract for the construction of the new headquarters of the East Yorkshire district health authority and Humberside family health services authority was put out to tender.

  Mr. Sackville
  I understand that the contract for the construction of the new headquarters was subject to competitive tendering.

  Office Costs
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 on rent and other costs associated with the offices of her Department at Richmond house, 79 Whitehall, London.

  Mr. Sackville
  Richmond house is a Crown building and the Department of Health pays an annual assessed rent to Property Holdings. The assessed rent for 1993–94 based on the space currently occupied by the Department of Health amounts to £5·5 million.

  Other costs directly associated with the accommodation—for example, contribution in lieu of rates, fuel—amount to £2·336 million.

  Hypothermia
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list, for each year since 1975, the number of recorded deaths from hypothermia in(a) England and Wales and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole.

  Mr. Sackville
  The information for England and Wales is shown in the table. The information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Number of deaths (a) with hypothermia as the underlying cause of death and (b) with any mention of hypothermia on the death certificate, all ages, England and Wales, 1975–1992.

  Year

  Underlying Cause

  Mentions

  1975

  25

  511

  1976

  21

  585

  1977

  14

  613

  1978

  21

  708

  1979

  435

  863

  1980

  261

  596

  1981

  276

  685

  1982

  326

  664

  1983

  221

  538

  1984

  266

  555

  1985

  440

  827

  1986

  437

  837

  1987

  269

  559

  1988

  194

  440

  1989

  166

  372

  1990

  152

  368

  1991

  249

  534

  1992

  149

  362

  Note:

  1 The figure for underlying cause between the years 1975–78 and 1979–92 are not comparable. This is due to the change from the 8th to the 9th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The 8th revision code is assigned to ICD 788.9 while the 9th revision code is assigned to ICDs 778.3 and 991.6.

  2 For 1986 to 1992 neonatal deaths are included in the mentions but not for the underlying cause of death (neonatal deaths were not given an underlying cause of death from 1 January 1986 onwards).

  Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been issued by her Department regarding the infectious disease multi-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

  Mr. Sackville
  Guidelines on the control of methicillinresistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were issued by professional organisations in 1985 and revised in 1990. Copies will be placed in the Library. The Department supports the advice given in these guidelines which are applicable to other multi-resistant staphylococcus organisms.

  The Department of Health issued general guidance to the national health service on hospital infection control in 1988, HC(88)33, copies of which are available in the Library. A joint Department of Health/Public Health Laboratory Service working party is currently updating this and we expect to issue revised guidance in 1994.

  The staff of the PHLS are able to offer detailed advice to the professionals involved in hospitals affected by MRSA.

  GPs (False Claims)
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by her Department to ensure that FHSAs are able to safeguard against general practitioners submitting false claims for the number of patients registered at their practice; and if she will make a statement.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  Family health service authorities are required to validate general practitioners' claims for fees and allowances, and where appropriate, to make payment accordingly. Regional health authorities are responsible for monitoring the performance of their FHSAs in the general discharge of their duties. The national health service central register can assist FHSAs in checking a patient's registration and the name of the previous doctor.

  Morning-after Pill
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had regarding the possibility of making the morning-after pill available without prescription.

  Mr. Sackville
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 26 October at column 607.

  Northumbria Health Authorities
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has for the amalgamation of Newcastle district health authority with North Tyneside health authority.

  Dr. Mawhinney
  We understand that the Northern regional health authority is planning to carry out a public consultation shortly on a proposal to merge Newcastle district health authority and North Tyneside district health authority.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Literacy
  Mr. Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of improved literacy levels on departmental expenditure.

  Mr. Burt
  The assessment and provision of information to the public on benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Mr. Michael Bichard to Mr. Patrick Cormack, dated October 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions raised about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking what assessment he has made of the impact of improved literacy levels in departmental expenditure.
  All publicity material and external claim forms are tested, at pre production stage, with representatives of the customer group, and when appropriate their advisers. This research ensures all relevant factors and considered and taken account of including any differentials in resource requirements.
  I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents in receipt of income support are paying a contribution towards maintenance by means of deducion of benefit as a result of a reference to the Child Support Agency.

  Mr. Burt
  The latest available information, collected in August 1993, indicates that deductions from income support in place of payments of child maintenance, at the standard rate of £2.20 a week, were being made from 1,522 absent parents. This information is taken from the management information statistics collated by the Benefits Agency, and is provisional.

  Mr. Channon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the recent case in Teesside county court involving the Child Support Agency; and if he will take steps to clarify the legal position of fathers who are already making maintenance payments as a result of a court order or an agreement made between the parties concerned.

  Mr. Burt
  Under child support legislation, parents with care not on income support, family credit or disability working allowance and who have a court order or written maintenance agreement will be able to apply to the agency between April 1996 and March 1997, and not before. Where a relevant benefit is in payment, the case will be taken on by the agency before April 1996, regardless of whether there is an existing court order or written maintenance agreement.

  The case before the Teesside combined court involved a parent with care not receiving relevant benefit who had previously sought to have her existing court order revoked so that she could apply to the agency before 1996. It is for the courts to decide whether, in any particular case, it is appropriate for them to revoke an existing court order. I

  845
  welcome the court's decision and although it sets no precedent, it may discourage others from attempting to jump the queue.

  National Insurance Contributions
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate for 1993–94 or give the most recently available estimate of the number of(a) employees who pay national insurance contributions, (b) employees with earned income above the NIC ceiling, (c) employees with earnings less than the income tax threshold who pay NICs, (d) self-employed who pay class 4 NICs, (e) self-employed who pay class 2 NICs, (f) self-employed who pay class 3 NICs, (g) all self-employed people paying NICs, (h) self-employed who pay no NICs and (i) self-employed with profits above the upper profits limit for NICs.

  Mr. Hague
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) 17·7 million;

  (b) 3·0 million;

  (c) 0·5 million;

  (d) 1·9 million;

  (e) 2·4 million;

  (f) Reliable estimates are not available;

  (g) In addition to those at (e) a number of self-employed earners pay Class 3 N1Cs to make-up their contribution record or Class 1 NICs from concurrent employment as an employed earner. Reliable estimates of the numbers involved are not available;

  (h) 0·45 million;

  (i) 0·43 million;

  Note: Figures (a-e) have been rounded to nearest 0.1 million.

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 678, what are the figures for tax-paying households in receipt of means-tested benefits for the latest year now available.

  Mr. Burt
  Pursuant to the hon. Member's question tabled in July, I wrote to the hon. Member on 28 September 1993 and provided him with the latest available information. A copy of the letter was placed in the Library.

  Mortgage Payment Assistance
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his latest estimate of the number of households receiving assistance with mortgage payments(a) for interest-only mortgages and (b) for endowment mortgages; and if he will make a statement;

  (2) what was the number of home owners in receipt of income support at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Burt
  The information is not available in the form requested. However, according to the latest available figures, 536,000 claimants are receiving income support to help with their mortgage interest payments and a further 59,000 are receiving income support to help with their housing requirements but no help with mortgage interest.

  Housing Benefit
  Ms Estelle Morris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to change the housing benefit rules as they apply to 16 and 17-year-olds who are looked after by social service departments.
  846
  Mr. Burt
  Housing benefit is payable only to people who are liable to pay rent. I intend issuing further guidance to local authorities to clarify the circumstances in which housing benefit is properly payable to young people being looked after by social service departments. The local authority associations will be consulted before this guidance is issued.

  Residential Homes
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the level of benefits paid to people in residential nursing homes.

  Mr. Burt
  A total of 273,000 people receive help through income support with residential care and nursing home fees at a cost of £2.5 billion1. This compares with 12,000 people who received such help in 1979 at a cost of £10 million.

  Since April 1985 practically all the income support limits for residential care and nursing homes have been increased in real terms. The limit for elderly people in residential care homes increased by 13 per cent. in real terms and the limit for elderly people in nursing homes by 36 per cent.

  These limits are reviewed each year as part of the general benefit uprating exercise and an announcement will be made as usual later this year.

  1Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry: Residential Care and Nursing Home Report November 1992.

  Invalidity Benefit
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to alter the invalidity benefit rules to disqualify people who undertake voluntary work.

  Mr. Scott
  We are reviewing invalidity benefit in the context of the fundamental review of social security expenditure. The review covers all aspects of the benefit including rules relating to the treatment of work. No decisions have yet been made.

  Benefit Claimants
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the number, age and gender of claimants without accommodation, by Benefits Agency local and district offices, and the number who are submitting sick certificates.

  Mr. Burt
  I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  Mr. Dunnachie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will extend the right to apply for industrial injuries disablement benefit for those suffering from chronic bronchitis, emphysema or both to shipyard workers as well as miners; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Scott
  The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council advises my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on the prescription of diseases for industrial injuries disablement benefit. I understand the council has not received the necessary scientific evidence to suggest that bronchitis and emphysema should be recommended for prescription in relation to shipyard workers.
  847
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many mothers on means-tested benefits have been financially penalised for not naming absent fathers since April 1993.

  Mr. Burt
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 28 October 1993:
  As Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many mothers on means tested benefits have been financially penalised for not naming the fathers since April 1993.
  To date, 22 Reduced Benefit Directions in respect of parents with care who have refused without good cause to co-operate with the Agency have been passed to the Benefits Agency to implement. The majority of these have not yet been implemented.
  I hope you will find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  VAT (Domestic Fuel)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration is being given to exempting day nurseries from VAT on fuel.

  Sir John Cope
  None. Many fee-paying day nurseries already pay VAT on their purchases of fuel. Nurseries that use small amounts of fuel and charitable providers of free day nursery care may currently buy fuel zero-rated, but such supplies will become liable to VAT at 8 per cent. from 1 April 1994 and at the standard rate from 1 April 1995.

  Ms Quin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regional assessment of the effect of VAT on domestic heating his Department has undertaken.

  Sir John Cope
  [holding answer 27 October 1993]: No specific regional assessment has been made. Expenditure within a region varies widely and depends on a wide range of factors.

  Office Costs
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 on rent and other costs associated with the offices of his Department at Parliament street, London.
  848
  Sir John Cope
  The Treasury's rent and works service charges for its offices in Parliament street are estimated in 1993–94 to be:

  £

  Rent (including VAT)

  6,748,822

  Works services charge

  1,370,850

  This accommodation is on the common user estate owned by the Crown and administered by Property Holdings. In addition a contribution in lieu of rates of £1,676,655 has been made to the Crown Property Unit of the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue.

  It is also estimated that in 1993–94 other associated Treasury costs in the Parliament street building will be as follows:

  £

  Fuel and Utilities

  280,000

  Cleaning Costs

  260,000

  Charges for maintenance and minor new works

  250,000

  Private Pensions
  Mr. David Shaw
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional costs are included in departmental budgets and accounts in respect of achieving an equivalence in accounting treatment with the additional Costs incurred by private sector companies in respect of the loss of tax relief on private sector pensions above the earnings cap.

  Mr. Dorrell
  None. Departments are expected to contain any pay-related costs within their existing budgets.

  EC Contributions
  Mr. Marlow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out what happens to the level of resources available to the European Community for each of the years for 1993 to 2000 on the basis of the growth rates assumed at Edinburgh and for average European growth rates of 0.25 per cent. per annum, 0.5 per cent. per annum, 1 per cent. per annum and 2 per cent. per annum less than those assumed.

  Mr. Nelson
  On the basis of the economic growth assumptions and the own resources ceilings agreed at the Edinburgh European Council, the information requested for the years 1993–1999—the period covered by the Edinburgh financial perspective—is as follows:
  849

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Own resources ceilings

  (percentage of GNP)

  1·20

  1·20

  1·21

  1·22

  1·24

  1·26

  1·27

  Own resources ceilings

  (mecu—1992 prices)

  Edinburgh economic assumptions1

  65,820

  67,272

  69,527

  71,858

  74,859

  77,968

  80,551

  Reduced real growth in Community GNP:

  -¼ per cent. per annum

  65,521

  66,799

  68,871

  71,002

  73,790

  76,667

  79,014

  -½ per cent. per annum

  65,359

  66,470

  68,364

  70,308

  72,890

  75,547

  77,669

  -1 per cent. per annum

  65,035

  65,816

  67,359

  68,935

  71,116

  73,347

  75,038

  -2 per cent. per annum

  64,387

  64,516

  65,379

  66,249

  67,672

  69,107

  70,004

  1 Edinburgh assumed real growth in Community GNP of 1·4 per cent. in 1993, 2·2 per cent. in 1994 and 2·5 per cent. a year thereafter.

  Exchange Rate Mechanism
  Mr. Redmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what review he is currently giving to membership by the United Kingdom of the ERM; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Nelson
  I have made it clear that sterling could not join the ERM for some time ahead—possibly not in this Parliament. Re-entry cannot be considered until there is greater convergence between the monetary policies appropriate for all the Community economies and I should also need to be satisfied that the system would be operated to the benefit of all its members.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Mandelson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the direct revenue yield in a full year at 1993–94 levels of income from restricting(a) personal allowances, (b) relief from pension contributions and (c) other reliefs to relief at (i) 25p and (ii) 20p giving, in each case, the numbers of people affected.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Estimated full-year yields at 1993–94 income levels based on a projection of the 1991–92 survey of personal incomes and other survey data are given in the table. The figures do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of such changes, and show the yield from restructuring each allowance or relief separately. If two or more were restricted the total yield would be greater than the sum of the individual figures.

  Restriction to

  Basic rate

  20p

  Effect of restricting

  Yield £ million

  Numbers affected Millions

  Yield £ million

  Numbers affected Millions

  (a) Personal allowances1

  1,600

  2·9

  6,500

  25·7

  (b) Relief for pension

  530

  1·4

  1,100

  10·5

  (c) other reliefs

  200

  0·6

  2n/a

  n/a

  1 Including the married couples' and related allowances.

  2 Information on reliefs given at source is not available from the Survey of Personal Incomes so it is not possible to estimate the effect of restricting other reliefs to 20 per cent.

  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn), 24 February,Official Report, column 585, if he will update the estimates given to include figures for 1993–94, expressing all estimates in 1993–94 prices.
  850
  Mr. Dorrell
  The table shows the direct revenue costs in a full year compared with reintroduced tax rates of 45, 50, 55 and 60 per cent. The band widths for the tax rate schedule have been calculated by uprating the corresponding parts of the 1987–88 regime by movements in retail prices index as in the statutory indexation formula. The estimates take account of the introduction of independent taxation from 1990–91 and the restriction of mortgage interest relief to the basic rate from 1991–92.

  Estimated change in tax revenue at rates in excess of 40 per cent.

  Year

  At current prices £ billion

  At 1993–94 prices £ billion

  1988–89

  2·6

  3·4

  1989–90

  3·2

  3·9

  1990–91

  3·7

  4·1

  1991–92

  4·3

  4·5

  11992–93

  4·4

  4·5

  11993–94

  4·6

  4·6

  1 Provisional estimates.

  The estimates do not allow for any behavioural effect that might have resulted had the tax rates above 40 per cent. been retained and do not include capital gains tax.

  Balance of Payments
  Mr. Dewar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answers to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) on 17 February,Official Report, column 206, if he will update the estimates giving figures for 1994–95 and for a full year.

  Mr. Dorrell
  Assuming statutory indexation in 1994–95 the basic rate limit would be £24,200. Estimated costs on yields at 1994–95 income levels compared with the indexed base are given in the table.

  Band of taxable income over which 35 per cent. rate would be charged

  Revenue cost at 1994–95 income levels from introducing a 35 per cent. rate £ million

  £

  In 1994–95

  Full-year

  24,200–26,000

  140

  190

  24,200–30,000

  380

  510

  24,200–35,000

  600

  800

  851

  Level of taxable income above which 50 per cent. rate would be charged

  Revenue yield at 1994–95 income levels from introducing a 50 per cent. Rate £ million

  £

  In 1994–95

  Full-year

  50,000

  1,450

  1,950

  60,000

  1,210

  1,620

  70,000

  1,030

  1,380

  The estimates do not allow for any behavioural effect that might result from such changes to the tax system and do not include capital gains tax.

  Coin Designs
  Mr Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans Her Majesty's Government has to issue new designs for circulating coins.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve my recommendation for a new series of designs for the reverse of the £1. coin. The designs will represent each of the four parts of the United Kingdom and will be adopted in turn during the years 1994–97.