§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how much money is allocated to the Hardship Fund for the current financial year; which dioceses have been given help from the Hardship Fund; what criteria are applied when distributing the Hardship Fund money; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Hardship Fund for the next financial year. [148031]
§ Mr. Stuart BellThe hon. Member refers to the funds the Church Commissioners provide to the Archbishops Council for selective allocation to dioceses to support the cost of parish ministry. The Commissioners must determine annually the total sum available for this purpose, taking into account the other statutory duties laid upon them by this House and by the General Synod of the Church of England.
In 2001 the Council will allocate £14.9 million provided by the Commissioners for stipend support to thirty dioceses, nearly two-thirds of which will be targeted on dioceses whose financial need is greatest. In addition the Commissioners provide more that £5 million in direct payments to clergy in all dioceses.
191WThe dioceses receiving allocations in 2001 are:
- Birmingham
- Blackburn
- Bradford
- Canterbury
- Carlisle
- Chelmsford
- Chester
- Coventry
- Derby
- Durham
- Exeter
- Hereford
- Leicester
- Lichfield
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Norwich
- Portsmouth
- Ripon and Leeds
- St. Albans
- St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich
- Sheffield
- Southwark
- Southwell
- Truro
- Wakefield
- Worcester
- York.
The current allocation formula takes into account diocesan socio-economic factors such as potential income, unemployment and OxLIP (a low income predictor) together with diocesan resources from historic endowments. It is under review and after revision will place greater emphasis on expected levels of giving by parishioners. It is expected that the new proposals will be introduced in 2002.