Bishops sitting in House of Lords 'claiming thousands to attend Westminster' - Telegraph.co.uk

Bishops can choose to attend on an ad hoc basis when matters of interest and concern to them are before it.

Under government plans, the number of bishops allowed to sit in the House of Lords would be reduced to 12.

They live rent-free in their diocese and to cover additional costs of running their historic homes they can draw upon allowances covered by the Church Commissioners, who manage the Church's £5 billion property and shares portfolio.

It came as Nick Clegg called on his Conservative coalition partners "to keep their word" and back reform of the "sometimes murky world" of the House of Lords.

Writing in the Independent, which has reported on the series of stories on the Lords, the Deputy Prime Minister said the process of reforming the House of Lords does not need to be "time consuming" if all parties are prepared to honour their manifesto commitments.

"We need politicians to do what they are always promising to do and put party differences to one side," he added.

A Church of England spokesman said: "Lords Spiritual, like other members of the House of Lords, are able to claim reimbursement for the costs incurred in the exercise of their parliamentary duties.

"Claims for reimbursement for costs incurred by the Lords Spiritual under the parliamentary scheme are handled by each individual bishops' diocesan office.

"The amounts claimed as reimbursement by Lords Spiritual will inevitably vary from bishop to bishop as a reflection of a number of factors including time spent in the House, geographical distance from Westminster, policy portfolios held, committee membership and all party group activity."