Contributions
792 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDListed Places of Worship Grant Scheme: £25,000 CapA survey carried out by the Church Commissioners found that at least 200 projects have been identified as likely to be affected by the cap on claims, including cathedrals and many…03 Apr 2025HANSARDListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeEver since I took on this role, this issue has come up time and again. I commit to writing to the hon. Member on this, having looked into what other support is available to her.…03 Apr 2025HANSARDListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeI thank my hon. Friend, who has raised this issue on many occasions. Yes, I will seek to arrange a roundtable meeting with the churches impacted. I hope we can also ensure that a…03 Apr 2025HANSARDListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeThere is no question but that churches are facing many challenges in this space. The in-year increases in the running costs for parishes, such as the national insurance increases,…03 Apr 2025HANSARD PIP Changes: Impact on Carer’s AllowanceI thank my right hon. Friend for how he is responding to this urgent question. The Conservatives, after 14 years in government, broke our social security system and created a…27 Mar 2025HANSARD Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners' Liability) Measure (HC 773)
Church Funds Investment Measure (HC 772)The lead Measure rationalises the legal basis on which the Church Commissioners are obliged to provide funds to repair the chancels of certain parish churches. The law in this…24 Mar 2025HANSARD Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners' Liability) Measure (HC 773)
Church Funds Investment Measure (HC 772)I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure (HC 773).24 Mar 2025HANSARD Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners' Liability) Measure (HC 773)
Church Funds Investment Measure (HC 772)As you rightly highlighted, Sir Jeremy, the Measures are quite narrow, but the hon. Member for Weald of Kent was given much time to talk about important projects, such as Project…24 Mar 2025HANSARD Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners' Liability) Measure (HC 773)
Church Funds Investment Measure (HC 772)That is correct. This Measure is about making it simpler and the parishes will not incur any additional liabilities or charges. The second Measure is another piece of reforming…24 Mar 2025HANSARDForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeMy hon. Friend is making an excellent speech and case against the cut to aid. She knows that the world’s most vulnerable children include disabled children. The Government’s…05 Mar 2025HANSARDChurch of England: SafeguardingThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to speak in the debate in my capacity as Second Church Estates Commissioner. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for…03 Mar 2025HANSARDChurch of England: SafeguardingMy hon. Friend will not be surprised to hear that I agree with her 100%. These failures are not new. As my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland…03 Mar 2025HANSARDChurch of England: SafeguardingMy hon. Friend has also been using her voice to speak up on this issue. We need to focus on the matter at hand: safeguarding in the Church of England. We have seen the…03 Mar 2025HANSARDCathedrals: Local Economic ContributionAs I say, the Church of England meets regularly to look at the impact of costs on cathedrals, and I am happy to write to my hon. Friend about the issue.27 Feb 2025HANSARDChurch of Scotland: Declining CongregationsThe pastoral and closed churches department of the Church Commissioners has recently consulted with the Church of Scotland on the experience of managing parishes and small…27 Feb 2025HANSARDListed Places of Worship Grant SchemeI will take my hon. Friend’s question back to see if we can set up a meeting. As she highlighted, many churches will be missing out on vital funds to carry out necessary repairs,…27 Feb 2025HANSARDArchbishop of Canterbury AppointmentThe Crown Nominations Commission, chaired by Lord Evans, will oversee the appointment of a new archbishop. A public consultation is under way— I encourage all hon. Members to…27 Feb 2025HANSARDChurch Organs: Legislative ProtectionMy hon. Friend will know that I do not answer for the Church of Scotland, and that heritage and culture is a devolved matter, but when a parish church is to close, the Church of…27 Feb 2025HANSARDRural ParishesI congratulate the hon. Member on being a true champion for his constituency and also for the need for additional resources that will ensure that our churches can truly stand the…27 Feb 2025HANSARDChurch Organs: Legislative ProtectionAgain, my hon. Friend highlights the importance and significance of preserving instruments, particularly the one at St Margaret’s. I would be happy to write to her to suggest…27 Feb 2025