Contributions
922 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsT2. We all condemn the violence that has led to the death of so many Palestinians and Israelis this month. Can the Foreign Secretary confirm that the UK still regards Israeli…31 Jan 2023HANSARDBlessings for Same-sex CouplesWith you permission, Mr Speaker, following my response to the urgent question on Tuesday, the advice I was given then was by the Church legal office, and I was yesterday asked to…26 Jan 2023HANSARDChurch’s Assets: Historic Involvement with SlaveryI do not think it is a question of either/or. When the chief executive of the Church Commissioners was on the “Today” programme recently explaining why we have done this, he was…26 Jan 2023HANSARDChurch’s Assets: Historic Involvement with SlaveryThe Church Commissioners have not tried to draw a direct line from historical investments to current assets, given the myriad inflows and outflows over 300 years. Our forensic…26 Jan 2023HANSARDChurch’s Assets: Historic Involvement with SlaveryThe £100-million fund will enable impact investment grant funding and research in response to the findings in the Church Commissioners’ report. An oversight group will be…26 Jan 2023HANSARDLichfield CathedralOne might think that Lichfield cathedral was the only cathedral in the Church of England, because my hon. Friend is one of the very few Members who regularly stands up for his…26 Jan 2023HANSARDLichfield CathedralI look forward very much to visiting Lichfield cathedral, but sadly that may not be until after Dean Adrian Dorber retires. I know that the dean’s work has been so significant…26 Jan 2023HANSARDChurches and Cathedrals: MaintenanceI am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that point, and I think the answer is that they need a bit of a boost, if I could put it that way. I would welcome his…26 Jan 2023HANSARDParish Churches: Family AttendanceI commend my hon. Friend for drawing attention, for the second month in a row, to the great work done by his local churches—none more so than St Martin’s church, Barton under the…26 Jan 2023HANSARDParish Churches: Family AttendanceThere are Church of England churches that provide breakfast and lunch clubs, as well as youth, children’s and toddler activities, including messy church and much more besides. A…26 Jan 2023HANSARDBlessings for Same-sex CouplesThe hon. Lady is right to raise this issue. These matters will be very livelily debated at the General Synod between 6 and 9 February. I can also tell her that each province in…26 Jan 2023HANSARDChurches and Cathedrals: MaintenanceI have read up on St Lawrence, Little Stanmore: its baroque interior and internationally renowned organ—Handel was employed as a composer in residence —are real treasures. I will…26 Jan 2023HANSARDChurches and Cathedrals: MaintenanceThe Taylor review of cathedral and church building sustainability was published in 2017. There is an urgent need for dialogue with the Government about it, because without a…26 Jan 2023HANSARD Equal Marriage: Church of EnglandMr Speaker, as you know, I offered to make a statement to the House yesterday but was advised that a response to an urgent question would be preferable. Last Friday, the bishops…24 Jan 2023HANSARD Equal Marriage: Church of EnglandAs I said in my opening statement, there is a range of views within the Church. We have seen just now that there is clearly a range of views within this House. The hon. Gentleman…24 Jan 2023HANSARD Equal Marriage: Church of EnglandI have the greatest respect for the right hon. Gentleman, with whom I have discussed these issues privately on a number of occasions. I will do my very best to answer his…24 Jan 2023HANSARD Equal Marriage: Church of EnglandI have great respect, of course, for what the Father of the House says, and I know that many Members in this House take a close interest in what happens in the General Synod of…24 Jan 2023HANSARD Equal Marriage: Church of EnglandI am grateful to my hon. Friend, and I believe that I can reassure him. As I said earlier, the new pastoral guidance will take account of the major change that the Church of…24 Jan 2023HANSARD Equal Marriage: Church of EnglandThe whole House will have been deeply moved by what the hon. Gentleman has said. I get his passion and strength of feeling on the issue. I do not know whether he had a chance to…24 Jan 2023HANSARD Equal Marriage: Church of EnglandI do not take away for one moment the seriousness with which hon. Members on all sides of the House view this issue, and I see the numbers who have come in for this urgent…24 Jan 2023