Member News
By Tony Grew - 13th May 2011
The Church of England has advocated greater regulation of the scrap metal industry after a spate of lead thefts from religious buildings.
Tony Baldry, the MP who represents the church commissioners, revealed that in the Commons yesterday that the Church of England has written to the home office calling for action.
"The Church Buildings Council is of the view that the regulation of scrap yards is fundamental to reducing the level of metal theft," Baldry told the House.
"It is all too easy for roofs to be stripped of lead one night and the lead to be sold for cash the next day.
"We want cash transactions for lead to be made illegal, a requirement for scrap yards receiving lead or traders selling it to be licensed specially for that activity, a requirement to show documentary proof of identification when selling lead and to photograph each person when their identity is checked, and a requirement on scrap yards to report suspicious activity or persons to local police forces."
Baldry said there has been "a significant number of insurance claims made", and churches in Manchester had more lead theft than in any other area of the UK last year.
Baldry also revealed the cost to the church of admitting women priests.
441 clergy resigned over the issue, at a cost of £27.5 million plus a further call of £2.4 million on the unfunded pension scheme.
"The draft legislation to enable women to become bishops makes no financial provision for those who might leave should it in due course pass into law," he said.
Simon Hughes (Lib Dem, Bermondsey and Old Southwark) observed that as "the last remaining people who had a long-term philosophical commitment to opposing women in the ministry appear to have left the Church of England", it is time for women bishops.
Baldry said the matter is being considered by the dioceses, and they will vote "in the near future".
If they approve, the proposal will go to the general synod.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.