§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the hon. Member for Wokingham as representing the Church Commissioners if he will detail for the last five years the number of priests who have voluntarily retired or resigned early; and if these data can be suitably classified according to reason for the early retirement or resignation.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeThe commissioners do not keep the information necessary to answer this question precisely. However, the information they do keep indicates that the number of priests who left the commissioners' payroll, other than for normal retirement or death, were:
Number 1980–81 208 1981–82 195 1982 190 1983 214 1984 237 A number of these will have taken up appointments in other forms of ministry: for example, forces chaplaincy, prison chaplaincy, school or hospital chaplaincy work.
Notes
1.The figures for 1980–81 and 1981–82 refer to the period 1 July to 30 June: the remaining columns refer to calendar years.
2.Clergymen who move directly from an appointment in one diocese to an appointment in another are not included in these figures.
3.The figures relate only to losses from full-time diocesan appointments.