8. The Rev Elwyn Sheppard asked -

(a) When did Standing Committee approve payment to General Synod in 1996 of a further $8,394 in addition to the amount approved by Synod?

(b) What extra information was available to Standing Committee when it approved this payment that was not available to Synod last year when it rejected a proposal to pay this amount?

(c) How much has actually been paid to General Synod so far this year?

To which the President replied -

(a) On 27 May 1996.

(b) The General Secretary of the General Synod advised the Standing Committee: -

(i) General Synod had advice that amounts included in the Statutory Assessment were justifiable in terms of Section 32 of the Constitution;

(ii) amounts levied under Section 32 will be clearly set out in future; and

(iii) Standing Committee of the General Synod was determined to manage its resources with the utmost care and notes that significant rebates have been made available to dioceses over the last four years.

(c) So far in 1996 $108,394 has been paid to General Synod for Statutory Assessments, nothing has been paid for the Special Assessment, $2,000 has been paid to the Defence Force Board which is a Board of the General Synod.

Mr Robert Tong asked -

(a) Has the Standing Committee received any further assurances from the General Synod in the light of the concerns set out on page 203 of the Standing Committee Annual Report 1995/96?

(b) Does the Statutory Assessment payable to General Synod include provision for the $15,000 unsecured interest free loan recently made to Church Scene?

To which the President replied -

(a) No.

(b) No.