THE clergy could be one step closer to gaining employment rights after the case of a Gwent Salvation Army captain was raised in Parliament.

Monmouth MP Huw Edwards made an appeal at Westminster for ministers of religion to be legally protected against unfair dismissal.

At the moment they are not covered by UK law because they are employees of God - not man.

The bid for rights was raised after former Salvation Army captain Paul McNab, of Abergavenny, claimed he had been dismissed after becoming ill.

Mr McNab, 45, was diagnosed with ME five years ago. He was forced to take several months off work to recover.

Symptoms of the condition include extreme exhaustion and muscle pain.

Mr McNab, who had worked for the Salvation Army for more than ten years, claimed he was "eased out of ministry" before having recovered.

Mr Edwards said he had "some faith" the government would be persuaded to grant the clergy employment rights, but was doubtful the Anglican Church would give the move its full support.

The Church of England is expected to give its response to a consultation paper drafted by the Department for Trade and Industry on employment rights.

Mr Edwards said: "It's due to make its response by December 11. I urge the church commissioners to ensure their submission supports the campaign."

Mr McNab was upbeat. He said: "I'm quietly confident. There's been a lot of positive feedback from other ministers in the area and they all agree we need employment rights. So the support is there."

But, whatever the outcome, Mr McNab ruled out returning to the Salvation Army. He said: "I think I would find it too difficult because of the way I felt I was treated."

Other MPs have given their backing to Mr Edwards' campaign.

He said: "Ben Champion, the MP for Wirral South, has been campaigning for this change for many years."

Stuart Bell, MP, also gave Mr Edwards a positive response on behalf of the church commissioners.

Mr Bell said: "The church is listening carefully and the bishops have discussed the matter."