HC Deb 28 February 2000 vol 345 c81W
35. Mr. Gordon Marsden

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what use they have made to date of new deal initiatives in their employment policies. [110632]

Mr. Stuart Bell

The Joint Staff Council of the national church institutions, of which the Church Commissioners are one, considered an internal paper, "New Deal—An Opportunity for the Church" in December 1998 and gave its support to the national Church institutions becoming involved. Matters have been taken forward subsequently with church representatives at national and diocesan level and with others concerned in this area.