To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008, Official Report, column 201W, on paid posts, for what reason the posts of Secretary to the Church Commissioners and Chief Financial Officer are reserved for practising Christians. (247500)

Both post holders have particular responsibilities for maintaining the Christian ethos of their organisations as well as representing the Church to others in society. Current discrimination legislation allows religious organisations to restrict appointment to Christians or Anglicans in those circumstances.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008, Official Report, column 201W, on paid posts, whether the post of (a) Secretary to the Church Commissioners and (b) Chief Financial Officer could be filled by a practising Roman Catholic. (247501)

The Chief Financial Officer has a responsibility to help maintain the Christian ethos of the National Church Institutions and this post could be filled by a Roman Catholic or a person from any other Christian denomination.

The Secretary to the Church Commissioners has a particular responsibility for representing the Church of England and maintaining its ethos within the Commissioners and, as such, appointments have been restricted to Anglicans in the past.