§ 35. Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what is the proportion of the annual Church Commissioners' revenue allocated to clergy pensions; and if he will make a statement. [101991]
§ Mr. Stuart BellIn 1998 (the latest year for which figures are available), the Commissioners spent £85 million on clergy pension benefits. They also contributed £23 million to help dioceses take on the cost of pension contributions under the new clergy pension scheme established in 1998, as well as paying the contributions for clergy for whom the Commissioners are responsible. The total expenditure on pensions and pension contributions was £110 million, which was 69 per cent. of the Commissioners' overall expenditure.