Contributions
922 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChristmastide ServicesI thank my hon. Friend for his question, and I will be leaving these questions to go into a governors meeting of the Church Commissioners, so I will pass that on very directly. I…26 Nov 2020HANSARDPersecution of ChristiansMy hon. Friend will know that there is a debate later today on this very subject, and he is absolutely right about the importance of inter-faith dialogue, which is why three years…26 Nov 2020HANSARDCovid-19 Lockdown: Public WorshipBoth archbishops joined other faith leaders earlier this month in writing to the Prime Minister to highlight the importance of public worship. The worship of Jesus is the…26 Nov 2020HANSARDCovid-19 Lockdown: Public WorshipI not only noted my right hon. Friend’s letter, but was one of the signatories to it. Like him, I know that clergy have worked extraordinarily hard to provide covid-secure…26 Nov 2020HANSARDHigh-quality Grade 1 and 2 FarmlandApproximately 35,000 acres of land owned by the Church Commissioners is high-quality grade 1 and 2 farmland, representing 39% of the overall agricultural portfolio. Information on…26 Nov 2020HANSARDHigh-quality Grade 1 and 2 FarmlandAs I think I said at the last questions, I commend the hon. Lady for raising this issue and, indeed, for returning to it today, and I genuinely welcome her scrutiny. More than 60%…26 Nov 2020HANSARDTraveller Communities: Planning PolicyWhat steps he is taking to improve planning policy for Traveller communities.16 Nov 2020HANSARDTraveller Communities: Planning PolicyIn parts of the country, we have the double disaster of settled residents moving away in fear and Traveller children having the worst outcomes of any group of children. Can the…16 Nov 2020HANSARDEngagementsOn Armistice Day, as we remember those who gave their lives for our country and those who still serve, will the Prime Minister give a positive response to the “Living in our…11 Nov 2020HANSARDObesity: Covid-19Unbelievable.10 Nov 2020HANSARDObesity: Covid-19I congratulate the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) on bringing this important debate before the House. When the Prime Minister announced the improvements to the child…10 Nov 2020HANSARD Live Events and Weddings: Covid-19 SupportThe Government are allowing deathbed weddings during this period of second lockdown but, please, I make a plea to extend that provision for deathbed weddings to where parents or…09 Nov 2020HANSARD Live Events and Weddings: Covid-19 SupportWould the Minister consider allowing a five-person event if siblings or parents were terminally ill?09 Nov 2020HANSARDPublic HealthThirty-four years ago, as an otherwise fit and healthy 24-year-old, I was carried out of my home by an ambulance crew with a collapsed lung. I had an emergency operation in the…04 Nov 2020HANSARDSupport for Children and Families: Covid-19I hope you are joking, Sir Christopher. I want to thank The Sun newspaper and their agony aunt, Deidre Sanders, for flagging up today’s debate with their “Sort It Out” campaign.…20 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateThe Secretary of State quite rightly finished his statement by saying that we must all play our part in getting the virus down. Does he think it was that shared population-wide…19 Oct 2020HANSARDGeneral Synod (Remote Meetings) (Temporary Standing Orders) MeasureI beg to move, That the Committee has considered the General Synod (Remote Meetings) (Temporary Standing Orders) Measure (HC 879). It is a pleasure to serve under your…19 Oct 2020HANSARDGeneral Synod (Remote Meetings) (Temporary Standing Orders) MeasureI reassure my hon. Friend that this Measure is purely about enabling the Synod to conduct its business in a hybrid manner so that 500 people do not have to cram into a relatively…19 Oct 2020HANSARDChurch of England Estate: WoodlandLike the hon. Lady, I strongly want to see more trees planted, and can tell her that so far this year we have planted 1.1 million trees in the UK, on top of the 2.6 million last…15 Oct 2020HANSARDChurch of England Estate: WoodlandIn December 2019, the Church Commissioners had 53% of their global land, 27.5% of their UK land and 4% of their English land in forestry, and we also own pooled timber funds in…15 Oct 2020