Contributions
922 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLockdown: Support for SchoolsOf course I will do that. I am delighted to learn of the work of St Michael and All Angels and St John’s Meads. It is typical of what the Church is doing across the country to…21 Jan 2021HANSARDLockdown: Support for SchoolsDiocesan education teams and local churches have focused on supporting the wellbeing of students and staff through the ongoing provision of collective worship, by providing and…21 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Persecution of ChristiansLast year, officials from the Church had regular meetings with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office—both Ministers and staff—where concerns were raised that covid-19…21 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Persecution of ChristiansI am very grateful to my hon. Friend for being one of three Members today to raise this vitally important issue. The Church is grateful for the Government’s continuing commitment…21 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19: LandholdingsThe Commissioners’ property assets are independently valued by third parties on an annual basis. The audited financial results for 2020 will be available later in the year and…21 Jan 2021HANSARDLandholdingsAs a leading global ethical investor, we regularly engage with all the businesses in which we are invested to improve best practice. While farming practices and management…21 Jan 2021HANSARDLandholdingsI thank my hon. Friend for his interest in this important area. Over 60% of our agricultural land is let on secure agricultural tenancies and the remainder on more modern sorts of…21 Jan 2021HANSARDLandholdingsThe Church Commissioners are undertaking a natural capital assessment to provide a baseline for our carbon outputs and to understand our ecosystem services. This will provide a…21 Jan 2021HANSARDPersecution of ChristiansAs part of the new Foreign Office project, the Church and the other consortium members will be equipping parliamentarians and religious leaders with the technical assistance and…21 Jan 2021HANSARDPersecution of ChristiansThe Church speaks up on behalf of all those who are unable to exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief. The Church of England is part of an international consortium…21 Jan 2021HANSARDLockdown: Church AttendanceMy hon. Friend raises a really important point. I draw his attention to the Parish Giving Scheme, which people can do by direct debit, and to various online giving options. Of…21 Jan 2021HANSARDLockdown: Church AttendanceIndeed I do. Over 7,000 people have now attended the Church’s digital training, equipping parishes across the country to stream services on a variety of different platforms. My…21 Jan 2021HANSARDLockdown: Church AttendanceThe Church is grateful to the Government for not imposing another national closure of religious buildings. It is right that parishes take local decisions on what to offer. There…21 Jan 2021HANSARDPersecution of Christians: NigeriaThe Archbishop of Canterbury, who knows Nigeria well, is monitoring the recent violence and the kidnapping of 300 schoolboys. He and I have met the family of Leah Sharibu, who was…21 Jan 2021HANSARDPersecution of Christians: NigeriaI begin by very warmly welcoming the appointment of my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) as the Prime Minister’s special envoy for freedom of religion and belief.…21 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Support for Vulnerable PeopleYes indeed, and I warmly commend the all-party parly group on faith and society for its research, as well as the Kruger review. I look forward to Colin Bloom’s report,…21 Jan 2021HANSARDCovid-19: Support for Vulnerable PeopleI am delighted that Lichfield, Rochester, Blackburn and Salisbury cathedrals are among the church buildings being used as vaccination centres. As well as providing worship, prayer…21 Jan 2021HANSARDPuppy TraffickingI can visit the Lucombe oak at Kew Gardens, but not the rhinos at Whipsnade, and they are both out in the fresh air. Will the Minister press for the outside areas of zoos to be…21 Jan 2021HANSARD Economic UpdateI am delighted to learn that local authorities will be receiving additional cash at the end of this week. Could I please ask the Chancellor to do everything possible to help local…11 Jan 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsDespite the best efforts of local authority inclusion officers, there continues to be a crisis in the education of Traveller children, with around a third of Traveller children in…11 Jan 2021