§ Mr. Greenwayasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergy have been paid in each year for which figures are available by the Church Commissioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeThe information is as follows.
Full-time diocesan clergymen in Provinces of Canterbury and York (excluding Europe): paid by Church Commissioners* As at: Numbers December 1983 10,805 December 1982 10,789 June 1982 10,818 December 1981 10,882 June 1981 10,992 December 1980 11,050 June 1980 11,235 December 1979 11,279 July 1979 11,337 July 1978 11,549
Per clergy register maintained by Church Commissioners† July Numbers 1977 11,782 1976 12,056
Per Church of England Year Book† December Numbers 1973 13,105 1971 15,223 1969 15,495 1968 15,607 1967 15,548 1966 15,457 1965 15,444 1963 15,121 1962 15,154 1961 15,059 1960 14,603 352W
Clergy pensioners paid by Church Commissioners as at 31 December‡ December Numbers 1983 5,407 1982 5,349 1981 5,186 1980 5,010 1979 4,810 1978 4,673 1977 4,499 1976 4,266 1975 4,092 1974 3,882 1973 3,650 1972 3,423
December Numbers 1971 3,287 1970 3,126 1969 3,049 1968 2,975 1967 2,926 1966 2,916 1965 2,896 1964 2,887 1963 2,903 1962 2,939 1961 2,922 * Only since 1 April 1978 have all diocesan clergy been paid by the Church Commissioners. † The clergy register has been maintained by the Church Commissioners since 1 January 1976. Earlier than this such records as were used in the compilation of the statistics given in the Church of England Year Book were maintained by the Central Board of Finance. ‡ Clergy pensioners have been paid by the Church Commissioners throughout the period covered.