HC Deb 02 April 1996 vol 275 cc212-3W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church Commissioners take(a) the £7,000 annual payments from the charitable funds of St. George's, Hanover square, paid into the incumbents in the old St. George's parish area and (b) the £3,500 payments to the assistant curate into account when paying their stipends. [23780]

Mr. Alison

Individual stipend levels are set by dioceses subject to certain understandings as to minimum levels. Dioceses take into account income from local trusts—such as those from the charitable funds of St. George, Hanover square. This follows the method for computing income for augmentation purposes approved by the General Synod in 1975. As a result, the incumbent of St. George, Hanover square receives no augmentation from the diocese of London and his stipend consists almost entirely of income from local charitable funds—with the exception of certain small statutory amounts paid to every incumbent from the Church Commissioners' funds. The assistant curate receives no income from these charitable funds.