§ Mr. BakerTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his answer of 23 November 1999,Official Report, column 59W, on how many occasions since 1 May 1997, the Commissioners have been informed of instances where paid commitments involved time which would otherwise have been spent on episcopal responsibilities; and on how many of these occasions a sum was deducted from the stipend. [100505]
§ Mr. Stuart BellThe Commissioners have not been informed of any instances where a Bishop has undertaken paid commitments involving time which would otherwise have been spent on episcopal responsibilities. Bishops are not required to inform the Commissioners of paid commitments undertaken during their own time.