§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Prime Minister if she will list the membership of the Crown Appointments Committee at the time of the appointment of the present Archbishop of Canterbury and its composition at each subsequent appointment.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Crown Appointments Commission consists of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, three members elected by the house of Clergy of the General Synod, Three members elected by the House of Laity of the General Synod, my private secretary for appointments, and the Archbishops' appointments secretary (these last two being non-voting members). To these are added, on the occasion of each vacancy, four members elected by the Vacancy in See Committee of the Diocese concerned.
The elected representatives are the responsibility of the Church of England.
128WWhen the Archbishopric of Canterbury is vacant, the Prime Minister appoints a lay person to chair the Commission for that vacancy. When the See of Canterbury was last vacant Sir Richard O'Brien was appointed to undertake this responsibility.