§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, 581W what estimate he has made of the increase in funding within diocesan resources required in 2002–03 to replace Church Commissioners' funding. [43181]
§ Mr. BellFollowing the Commissioners' good investment performance in recent years, they plan to distribute an extra £10 million for parish ministry over 2002–04 and will increase their transitional relief to assist dioceses and parishes in meeting contributions for clergy pension by the same amount. They continue to meet the full cost of clergy pensions for service prior to 1998.
The relationship between the Church's funding partners remains fluid and it is not particularly meaningful to express part of diocesan expenditure as a replacement for Commissioners' funding. I refer the hon. Member to the Commissioners' annual report and to our correspondence for a fuller account of these matters.