Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 11 January 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 January 2001. It was answered by Stuart Bell (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 January 2001 on behalf of the Church Commissioners.

Church Commissioners

Question: To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how much was spent in the last year for which figures are available on (a) housing for bishops and (b) Church programmes aimed specifically at the homeless. - Inc fgiures and fact that information on homeless is not available.

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how much was spent in the last year for which figures are available on (a) housing for bishops and (b) Church programmes aimed specifically at the homeless. [145384] Mr. Stuart Bell: In 1999 revenue spending on bishops' houses by the Church Commissioners was £3.3 million. Figures for expenditure on suffragan bishops' houses, which are owned by diocesan boards of finance, are not available. Church programmes to help the homeless are carried out by a wide variety of agencies, charities and parishes. They are numerous, are often locally based, and respond to local needs. Details of their expenditure are not held centrally.

Secondary information