Contributions
922 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSocial PrescribingMay I first apologise to you, Mr Speaker, and all Members participating for not being present in person as I am required to self-isolate at home? I am very pleased the hon. Lady…22 Jul 2021HANSARDChurch Repairs: VATThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that when regular maintenance is not done, the final costs are much higher. We have had other one-off grants in the past, such as the roof…22 Jul 2021HANSARDRiver HealthWhat steps he is taking to help improve river health.22 Jul 2021HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateCan I thank my hon. Friend for his unfailing courtesy and diligence in responding to MPs week after week in respect of his duties, and also ask him if he could share with the…19 Jul 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdatePrimary care is not only the frontline of the fight against covid; it is also the front door of the NHS and many staff are on their knees at the moment. May I ask the Secretary of…12 Jul 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Household DebtUnsustainable debt destroys lives, marriages and couple relationships, and causes misery to families up and down the country. As in so many areas of life, prevention is always…08 Jul 2021HANSARDInternational TravelWhile we all have huge sympathy for travel companies with very little income, what action is the Secretary of State going to take to help people such as my recently widowed…29 Jun 2021HANSARDChurch Estates: Rewilding, Tree-planting and Sustainable FarmingThere was a lot there, but I will do my best. I can tell the hon. Lady that, of the 184,000 acres we own in total, 92,000 acres are timber, but she is right that there is more to…17 Jun 2021HANSARDInvestment in Companies: Transparency and Low Carbon EconomyThe commissioners have a long history of leveraging their position as an investor to increase transparency and to make sure that companies are Paris-aligned—most recently, with…17 Jun 2021HANSARDInvestment in Companies: Transparency and Low Carbon EconomyAll parts of the Church are absolutely committed to reaching net zero. The Church will shortly be meeting Environment Ministers to see what more we can do together, and our…17 Jun 2021HANSARDNet Zero TargetWe estimate that the net carbon footprint for our church buildings is 12.5% lower than in 2006. We have developed an energy footprint tool, which has been shortlisted for an award…17 Jun 2021HANSARDNet Zero TargetI am delighted to be able to tell my hon. Friend that the diocese of Exeter has just received a £1 million grant from the Church for its Growing the Rural Church project. She…17 Jun 2021HANSARDOnline and In-person Communal Worship: Covid-19 RestrictionsThe Church of England is strongly encouraging churches to support both in-person and online communal worship, and training has been given to thousands of clergy to enable this. It…17 Jun 2021HANSARDOnline and In-person Communal Worship: Covid-19 RestrictionsI could not agree with my hon. Friend more, and I can give him a complete assurance that the Church of England fully recognises the importance that so many people attach to…17 Jun 2021HANSARDRewilding in New Tenancy AgreementsI continue to be grateful to the hon. Lady. The Church wants to be an exemplar in this area. I can tell her that we expect the results of the natural capital audit shortly and…17 Jun 2021HANSARDChurch Estates: Rewilding, Tree-planting and Sustainable FarmingI can tell the hon. Gentleman that like him I want to see a lot more trees planted. The Church in 2020 planted 1.1 million trees, on top of the 2.6 million we planted in 2019.…17 Jun 2021HANSARDChurch Estates: Rewilding, Tree-planting and Sustainable FarmingAhead of the new environmental land management schemes, we are undertaking a natural capital audit across our rural holdings. The report, which is expected later this year, will…17 Jun 2021HANSARDChoral Singing in Churches and Cathedrals: Covid-19The Church is having ongoing discussions with the Government about when choral and communal singing in churches and cathedrals can return, and I am very aware how frustrating the…17 Jun 2021HANSARDChoral Singing in Churches and Cathedrals: Covid-19I was praising my hon. Friend in front of all the cathedral deans on Tuesday for his diligence on behalf of Lichfield cathedral. He is absolutely right about the beauty of our…17 Jun 2021HANSARDRewilding in New Tenancy AgreementsI commend the hon. Lady’s continued focus on this vital area. Our new farm business tenancies strongly encourage good environmental practice, such as ensuring that watercourses…17 Jun 2021