Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 18 December 2025 (HL12789), whether they plan to encourage the Church of England to allow appeals in cases where Bishops refuse to extend a parish clergy's period in office.

Aside from the limited extensions permitted by legislation and set out in the previous response dated 18 December 2025 (HL12789), there is a mandatory retirement age of 70 prescribed by section 1(3) of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Age Limit) Measure 1975 which applies to all Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Archdeacons, residentiary Canons, parish incumbents and curates. Any changes to this, including the introduction of an appeals process, would be for the Church of England to determine.