§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will make a statement on the first report of the McClean Review on clergy terms of service. [151117]
§ Sir Stuart BellThe McClean report was published on 23 January and will be debated by the General Synod on 12 February. Subject to the views of Synod, the Report will then be the subject of consultation throughout the Church.
It recommends conferring through Church legislation a new package of rights and responsibilities for clergy. This will include: access to Employment Tribunals to claim unfair dismissal (at the same time as retaining the office holder status of clergy); legal entitlement to the rights covered by section 23 of the Employment Relations Act (except for the right not to work on Sundays); a new form of tenure, known as common tenure under which appointments for clergy without the freehold would normally be made until retirement; new Clergy Terms of Service Regulations which would clarify the responsibilities of clergy on a national basis; and a capability procedure to be invoked where clergy are failing to reach minimum standards.