HC Deb 03 November 1997 vol 300 cc8-9W
37. Mr. Flynn

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what new proposals he has to increase the returns from Church investments.[11772]

Mr. Bell

In terms of new proposals, the short answer to my hon. Friend is for the Church Commissioners to hold their nerve during recent stock market corrections and to have sufficient cash in hand to take advantage of any bargains that have been presented as a consequence of good stocks falling lower than their true market value.

40. Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the Church Commissioners, what are the investment priorities of the Commissioners for the coming year.[11775]

Mr. Bell

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave a moment ago to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn). The Commissioners' priorities are measured over the long term but we actively manage our asset portfolio to ensure that we hold the most appropriate investments to enable us to optimise our return on both capital and income.