HC Deb 11 March 1997 vol 292 c123W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of the letter from the Parishes Protection Group of 11 February, to the Church Commissioners; if he will place a copy of the reply in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [19029]

Mr. Alison

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 February, column14.

The Church commissioners have been engaged in extensive correspondence with the Parishes Protection Group on a wide range of issues relating to their work, in particular the proposals for the future financing of clergy pensions. The Parishes Protection Group has made a number of assertions which the commissioners do not accept and the commissioners have made their position clear to the group. The hon. Member, in this connection, will have received a copy of a recent note on the legality of the payment of clergy pensions. I will place this in the Library.