asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any agreement has been reached with the Church Commissioners and representatives of Anglican clergy about the classification of the clergy for national insurance purposes from April 1975.

As I explained on 26th November 1974—[Vol. 882, c. 347]—during the Report stage of the Social Security Amendment Bill, it has been agreed with the Churches Main Committee that the clergy should remain self-employed contributors for an interim period of one year from April 1975 to enable them to consider the implications of the White Paper "Better Pensions".