§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his answer of 23 February,Official Report, column 333, by how much the Commissioners' allocation to stipends has been reduced in the current year as a result of providing for resignations under the Ordination of Women (Financial Provisions) Measure 1993; what are the expected cuts in the allocation to stipends for this reason in each of the next three years; and if he will give his latest estimate of the cost of financial provision under the Measure on the same basis as the figures given to the Ecclesiastical Committee on 11 March 1993.
§ Mr. AlisonThe commissioners are currently engaged, with dioceses, on a programme of cuts in diocesan support amounting to £32 million by 1997 to bring their expenditure and income back into balance. Those cuts are not directly related to the costs of financial provision arising from the ordination of women legislation, although those costs have had an impact—relatively modest—on the scale of cuts required. The commissioners' latest estimates of those costs to be met from their income average around £3 million per annum over the period 1995—97.
Actual expenditure in 1994 and illustrative costings based on a possible total of 350 resignations are set out in the following table. These reflect the pattern of expenditure incurred to date.
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Illustration of costs for 350 resignations Year Gross costs to be met from CC income £ Housing capital (funded by CC) £ Net costs for Church £ New housing capital (Funded by CC £ 2011 226,000 — 226,000 (390,000) 2012 233,000 — 233,000 (406,000) Total 19,834,000 12,189,000 10,488,000 6,138,000 Notes:
- (a) The number of resignations shown (350)is a broad estimate, and the final costs may vary substantially.
- (b) Actual costs based on 232 resignations are shown in respect of 1994. A similar pattern of costs has been assumed for future years.
- (c) The figures make allowance for future increases in house prices and stipends.
- (d) It has been assumed that 50 per cent. of resigners will require housing assistance.
- (e) The net figures take account of such variables as stipends savings (assuming at least a temporary reduction in the payroll), allowance for retirement housing provision which would otherwise have arisen on retirement, and the possibility of some people redeeming loans or leaving rented accommodation once they have obtained alternative employment.