Contributions
145 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPersecution of Christians: FCO Global ReviewThis allows me to share with the House a bit of good news on a rather serious and depressing subject, which is that the Archbishop of Canterbury, together with Pope Francis,…09 May 2019HANSARDPersecution of Christians: FCO Global ReviewI do agree. In fact, one of the key points of the Church of England’s submission is that there needs to be a joined-up approach more widely, right across Government, to the…09 May 2019HANSARDPersecution of Christians: FCO Global ReviewThat interim report, which I recommend colleagues read, is quite a shocking revelation about how extensive the persecution of Christians and other minority religions around the…09 May 2019HANSARDPersecution of Christians: FCO Global ReviewThe Church warmly welcomed the decision by the Foreign Secretary to launch an independent review of his Department’s support for persecuted Christians, which is being chaired by…09 May 2019HANSARDClimate ChangeI have seen for myself how Tearfund’s programme of providing solar technology in countries such as Bangladesh has transformed the lives of young people, so I am pleased to hear…01 May 2019HANSARD Climate Change PolicyI listened, “Blue Peter”-style, to the statement that the Minister made earlier, and I congratulate her on her bold assertion that there is no planet B. Does she recognise the…23 Apr 2019HANSARD European CouncilSome car factories in my region are already in a forced shutdown because of the Brexit uncertainty. I thank the Prime Minister for helping us to avoid a no-deal crash-out, and,…11 Apr 2019HANSARD Section 1 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019Just to support what my hon. and learned Friend says, business says very clearly to us that the deal is good enough for it. Is he aware that the mini-extensions are really…09 Apr 2019HANSARD EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship (Motions)No, I will not give way. If jobs were lost so that we could have a more flexible trade policy in the future, I would find that way forward very difficult to support. The critical…01 Apr 2019HANSARD EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship (Motions)No, I have now said three times that I will not give way. For the automotive industry, just-in-time manufacturing is critical. Some 1,100 lorries a day pass through Dover. Many…01 Apr 2019HANSARD EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship (Motions)I am afraid I do not have time to do so. We must weigh up the pros and cons of all options before us. However, given the large manufacturing footprint in many of our…01 Apr 2019HANSARD EU: Withdrawal and Future Relationship (Motions)It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), who was a very good Minister in the coalition Government. I am very keen that the voice of the…01 Apr 2019HANSARDOrdination of Women: PriesthoodOur plans are to pursue our determination to encourage more women into the priesthood. For the record, I share with the House the fact that the number of female clergy is now at a…28 Mar 2019HANSARDEaster Church AttendanceThe Church has been winning awards for the range of innovative resources it uses to develop support for local churches and encourage their communities to use them. For example,…28 Mar 2019HANSARDArchbishops’ Council’s Strategic Development FundThe Church Commissioners vote annually on the availability of strategic development funding. The funding is a 10-year programme, and the £270 million of overall funding for the…28 Mar 2019HANSARDShootingThe Church Commissioners’ rural estate is almost entirely let, predominantly on secure tenancies, which include shooting rights. The Church Commissioners’ ability to influence…28 Mar 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Farming PolicyI chair the all-party parliamentary group for the horse, and we heard yesterday that 87 horses were killed on our roads last year. Will it be possible under future farming policy…28 Mar 2019HANSARDChurch Land and Buildings: Digital ConnectivityThe Church Commissioners would be interested, but the initiative comes very much from the diocese; I encourage them to make contact through the diocesan office. Some diocese have…28 Mar 2019HANSARDOrdination of Women: PriesthoodThere are a number of significant anniversaries this year. It is the 25th anniversary of women’s ordination as priests, the 50th anniversary of women being made readers and the…28 Mar 2019HANSARDEaster Church AttendanceParish churches will be welcoming parents and families especially back to church this weekend for Mothering Sunday. What better year to record with grateful thanks all of those…28 Mar 2019