§ Mr. Lathamasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether he will set out in tabular form for each of the years since 31 March 1975 the sums paid by the commissioners to augment the stipends of clergymen.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeThe sums paid by the commissioners for stipends of clergymen in each year since 31 March 1975 are as follows:
Year to From the crs' own resources Diocesan and other contributions paid via the crs* Total £m £m £m 31 March 1976 18.8 2.8 21.6 31 March 1977 20.1 4.2 24.3 31 March 1978 21.2 4.6 25.8 31 March 1979 23.8 9.5 33.3 31 December 1979† 19.2 10.3 29.5 31 December 1980 27.1 18.0 45.1 31 December 1981 28.9 25.6 54.5 * From 1 April 1978 includes glebe income. † 9 months.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether he will make a statement on the proposals fo the commissioners, as central stipends authority, to increase the level of stipend ranges and scales for beneficed clergy and assistant curates in the current financial year; and what progress has been made in recent years in improving the payments by parishes towards the essential working expenses of incumbents.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeThe commissioners, as central stipends authority, recommended for the year from 1 April 1982 an increase in the national minimum stipend for incumbents to £5,500 with a range extending to £6,000 within which each diocese sets its own minimum stipend. The increased national scale recommended for assistant curates starts at £4,500 with five annual increments of £120 up to £5,100. The CSA emphasises that dioceses are free to remunerate assistant staff with family commitments, greater seniority, exceptional experience or responsibility, at a higher level than that indicated by the scale.
The CSA has recently made the following recommendations for increases in stipend levels to be effective from 1 April 1983; a national minimum stipend for incumbents of £6,050 with a range for diocesan minima extending to £6,450 and a scale for assistant curates starting at £5,150 with four annual increments of £125 up to £5,650. In addition to their stipends, incumbents and assistant curates are provided with a house free from rent, rates repairs and insurance (or an appropriate housing allowance).
There has been a continuing improvement in the average levels of reimbursement of expenses of incumbents—and parochial clergymen of similar 151W status—in recent years. In 1975.76 some 57 per cent. on average, was reimbursed by PCCs and others, but by 1980.81 this figure had risen to 78 per cent.
The CSA has also distributed to dioceses a booklet called "The Parochial Expenses of the Clergy—a Guide to their Reimbursement". It is hoped that this booklet will serve to encourage parishes to improve further the levels of reimbursement to the clergy. I am arranging for a copy of this booklet to be sent to the hon. Member.