Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona Bruce Excerpts
Thursday 4th July 2013

(11 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Tony Baldry Portrait Sir Tony Baldry
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I have sufficient difficulties sorting out the problems of the Church of England. I do not have responsibility for how other denominations open or close their churches. That will be, if anything, a matter for the local planning authority.

Fiona Bruce Portrait Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)
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4. What assessment he has made of the financial performance of the Church Commissioners in 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Baldry Portrait Sir Tony Baldry
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For the financial year 2011-12, the commissioners achieved a total return of 9.7%. Over the last 20 years the commissioners have returned an average of 9.9%, which outstrips our personal aim of meeting the challenging target of retail prices index inflation plus 5%.

Fiona Bruce Portrait Fiona Bruce
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Can my hon. Friend update the House on the current ethical investment policies of the Church Commissioners?

Tony Baldry Portrait Sir Tony Baldry
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The Church of England has very tough ethical investment policies, and we can demonstrate that the Church Commissioners have significantly outperformed the market while investing ethically, and that it is possible to invest ethically and get a genuinely good return on those investments.