Contributions
922 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPolice Grant ReportOn the point about focusing on where county lines come from, they also come from Luton, which is another reason why Bedfordshire needs to be treated fairly.09 Feb 2022HANSARDChurch SchoolsThe Church of England runs 4,600 schools, including a quarter of all primary schools and two thirds of all small rural schools in the country. We are also a major provider of…27 Jan 2022HANSARDFreedom of Religion or BeliefI am particularly grateful to the hon. Lady for mentioning Nigeria, because the situation there, in many cases, is extremely challenging for Christians. One practical thing that…27 Jan 2022HANSARDParenting and MarriageThe Church is deeply committed to marriage and will always be there to support every family and household. It is for that reason that both archbishops have launched a commission…27 Jan 2022HANSARDParenting and MarriageMy right hon. Friend asks a typically astute question, and, like any national institution, the Church has examples of outstanding practice, which are not as widely shared as they…27 Jan 2022HANSARDParenting and MarriageI think I can make my hon. Friend at least partially happy by telling him that the Church of England has no principled objection to humanist marriage. However, I know he will be…27 Jan 2022HANSARDParenting and MarriageThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. I am a former chair of Christians in Parliament, which is ably run by our colleague, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Devon (Sir…27 Jan 2022HANSARDParenting and MarriageI thank the hon. Gentleman; sadly, some marriages cannot be saved, but he is right that many marriages, with the appropriate help and support, can be saved. All marriages go…27 Jan 2022HANSARDChristians: Middle EastI am grateful to my hon. Friend, who I know takes issues of religious persecution very seriously indeed. We know from Open Doors and others of the extreme persecution suffered by…27 Jan 2022HANSARDChristians: Middle EastI know that, like me, my hon. Friend is deeply conscious that this is Holocaust Memorial Day. I can tell her that there are many strong relationships enabling the Church to…27 Jan 2022HANSARDGay and Lesbian RelationshipsThe Church of England’s doctrine defines marriage as between one man and one woman, and changing doctrine is a serious matter that involves humbly seeking to discern the mind of…27 Jan 2022HANSARDGay and Lesbian RelationshipsI thank the right hon. Lady for the question. What she suggests may be welcome, but the Church needs to discern what it believes the true teachings of the gospels to be. In order…27 Jan 2022HANSARDFly-tipping3. What steps he is taking to tackle fly-tipping.27 Jan 2022HANSARDFly-tippingWill the Government ensure that the section 33 offence attracts a fixed penalty of at least £2,000, much more than the price of a skip? At the moment, it is a rational economic…27 Jan 2022HANSARDTackling Racial InequalitiesI agree with the hon. Lady that the Church has not done well enough in this area in the past, but I am sure that she will be pleased to learn that, on Tuesday this week, two UK…27 Jan 2022HANSARDChurch SchoolsI most certainly join my hon. Friend in thanking all the Church schools in North Devon for the fantastic work that they have done throughout the pandemic. We are supporting the…27 Jan 2022HANSARDChurches and Cathedrals: SustainabilityThe Church estimates that over the next five years at least £1.14 billion of maintenance and repairs are needed for churches and cathedrals. The Church is very grateful that 550…27 Jan 2022HANSARDFreedom of Religion or BeliefI am only sorry that, unusually, our hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) is not in his place to hear my hon. Friend’s praise for his diocese. She is…27 Jan 2022HANSARDChurches and Cathedrals: SustainabilityI am delighted that the thatched roof of All Saints, Beighton, has been fixed and that the listed places of worship grant scheme, which covers the VAT cost, was helpful in…27 Jan 2022HANSARDFreedom of Religion or BeliefIt gives me very great pleasure, on behalf of the whole of the Church of England, to thank my hon. Friend for her hard work as the Prime Minister’s special envoy for freedom of…27 Jan 2022