House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Bill

HC Deb 26 February 2001 vol 363 cc403-4W

36. Mr. Swayne

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of the impact of the provisions of the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Bill on pensions and stipends. [149422]

Mr. Stuart Bell

No assessment has been made. We would expect that any priest or deacon elected as an MP and wishing to continue his or her ministry as a priest would have to become a non-stipendiary minister. Stipend would cease and the years as an MP would not count as pensionable service under the clergy pension scheme. Comparatively few people will be in this position and the impact of this Bill upon stipends and pensions costs for the Church of England as a whole is likely to be negligible.