Patronage

Answer: I thank my hon. Friend for that helpful question and that vote of confidence. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster takes responsibility on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen as patron, either solely or jointly, of 42 Church livings. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also presents suitable candidates to the bishop of the diocese and has power over ancient livings. I have been informed that there are two such livings in Leicestershire—one in Whitwick and one in Thringstone. The living in Thringstone is currently vacant, and I will do all that I can in conjunction with my ministerial colleagues to suggest that a suitable candidate is sitting on the Back Benches.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Tuesday, 6 December 2005 by David Leslie Taylor (Labour).

Question: In May this year, the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster reputedly used his power of eminence bleu patronage to secure a peerage and ministerial post for an unelected No. 10 adviser, Andrew Adonis, who was the progenitor of privatised city academies and the author of the barmier ideas in the recent education White Paper, including divisive and elitist trust schools. Given that track record, does the Minister agree that the next Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster should divest herself—[Hon. Members: ““Oh.””]—of every scintilla of patronage and influence on Government appointments at a very early stage in her career?

Secondary information