§ Mr. BakerTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what account the Church Commissioners take of allowances paid to bishops by the House of Lords in setting their pay and allowances. [130404]
§ Mr. Stuart BellNone. These allowances are paid to bishops to cover their overnight accommodation, subsistence, secretarial and travel costs incurred in the exercise of their duties as Members of the House of Lords. They are entirely separate from bishops' stipends and working costs paid by the Commissioners.