AN MP has confronted the Church Commissioners with Parliamentary questions about their secret decision to sell the Zurbaran paintings – and possibly Auckland Castle as well.

Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland and Teesdale, is demanding to know whether proper consultation took place with the Durham Diocese, as required under legislation dating back to 1943.

She also wants to expose any different treatment of North-East treasures in comparison with Church of England assets in the South of England.

The 14 questions follow the creation of an action group to fight to keep the £15m paintings in Auckland Castle, which has been their home for 250 years.

Ms Goodman has launched a petition to force the commissioners to drop their plans – revealed in The Northern Echo – which she described as “asset-stripping”.

She said: “I want to get to the bottom of when the Church Commissioners decided to prepare the sale of the Zurbaran paintings and Auckland Castle, a decision that has caused so much anger across County Durham.

“I also want to find out if there is any difference in the way they treat Auckland Castle and Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

The questions seek to find out when the commissioners decided to go ahead with preparations for the sale of the paintings and castle, to determine when relevant professional organisations were asked to provide advice over the situation, and their individual fees.

Her questions also ask about Lambeth Palace, querying its value, running costs and overheads.

The Church Commissioners have been accountable to Parliament since the 1840s, which means Conservative MP Tony Baldry must answer the questions on their behalf.

It was Mr Baldry who vowed the paintings would be sold next year –regardless of local people’s opinions – and who revealed that Auckland Castle could also be sold.

Barbara Laurie, chairwoman of the Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum, welcomed the move by Ms Goodman, and said: “It is excellent that this is being brought up in Parliament because the question needs to be raised on a national level.

“There is great danger that the North is being treated in a very different way to the South.”

Lesley Zair, Bishop Auckland’s mayor, also voiced her support for the Parliamentary questions.

She said: “Losing the paintings and the castle would be another nail in the coffin for Bishop Auckland. We cannot afford to lose anymore of our heritage.”

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Church Commissioners said yesterday: “Any Parliamentary questions tabled by an MP will be answered in Parliament according to the rules of the House.”

QUESTIONS TABLED BY HELEN GOODMAN, MP FOR BISHOP AUCKLAND

To ask which Commissioners have attended each of the meetings of the Church Commissioners in 2010?

To ask what the specific purpose has been to date of the advice received by the Church Commissioners from lawyers and PR consultants?

To ask when in 2010 did the Church Commissioners decide to go ahead with preparations for the sale of the Zurbarans paintings and Auckland Castle, and if and when this decision was subsequently changed or modified in any way?

To ask when in 2010 were lawyers, PR consultants, auctioneers, estate agents and other professionals asked to provide advice in relation to the Zurbarans paintings and Auckland Castle?

To ask what fees the Church Commissioners have incurred in 2010 for professional services from: a) the lawyers Mischon de Raya, b) the PR consultants Chelgate, c) the auctioneers Sotherby’s and Christie’s, d) the Estate Agents Smiths Gore, e) any other professionals, in relation to the Zurbaran paintings and Auckland Castle?

To ask if the Church Commissioners will make a statement about the future of Auckland Castle and the Zurbarans paintings that hang there?

What is the annual income from visitors, room hire etc at Lambeth Palace?

What are the annual overheads and running costs of Lambeth Palace?

If the Church Commissioners will list all buildings, land and property holdings worth over £5m?

If they will list all buildings, land and property holdings worth over £10m?

If they will list all buildings, land and property holdings worth over £1m?

Will the Secretary of State make a statement on the exclusion of the Church Commissioners from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act?

To ask the Church Commissioners if they had completed the consultation with the Diocesan Advisory Committee in line with Section 3 of Episcopal Endowment and Stipends Measure 1943 before initiating preparations for the sale of the Zurbarans paintings at Auckland Castle.

Can the Church Commissioners place in the library of the House three documents referred to in page 34 of their 2009 Annual Report, viz., a) the market vaulation of other see houses as at 31 December 2008, b) the latest annual valuation by Gurr Jones of the most valuable and historic items at Lambeth Palace and see houses; c) the December 2007 valuation by Gurr Jones of the remaining historic items at Lambeth Palace and see houses?