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1715181

registered interest
date	01/05/2024
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Layan Nasir
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what representations the Church has made to the Israeli government to secure the release of Layan Nasir from administrative detention.
tabling member constituency	New Forest West
tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
uin	24356
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/05/2024 answer text <p>On 9<sup>th</sup> April the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, issued the following short statement in response to the news that Layan Nasir, a member of an Anglican congregation in the occupied West Bank, had been arrested by Israeli forces.</p><p>“I’m shocked and deeply concerned by this news. Together with our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters, I pray for Layan and her family - and for the congregation of St Peter’s Anglican Church in the Occupied West Bank. Please pray for Layan’s safety and swift release.” The Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun, joined the Archbishop’s call for prayers and her release.</p><p>On 28th April the Archbishop renewed his appeal for the release of Layan Nasir, who I understand is being held in Damon Prison, in Israel. A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace told Sky News:</p><p>“He is deeply concerned to learn that she is now facing administrative detention for four months, without charge and with no due process for her, her family, or lawyers to challenge this. Such processes against what is already a deeply threatened minority are contrary to commitments given over the years. This, along with daily harassment of Christian laity and clergy in East Jerusalem, indicates the predicament that many Christians now face in the West Bank and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. As the Occupying Power, the State of Israel is obliged by International Law to protect those at risk.”</p><p>The Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, met with members of the family of Layan Nasir last week during a visit to the Occupies Palestinian Territories. I understand from Church House officials that conversations are ongoing with both the Israeli and the British Government regarding Layan Nasir’s release from administrative detention.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 17/05/2024 13:34:51 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne

1691338

registered interest
date	23/02/2024
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Church of England: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church plans to commission an independent review of funds allocated by the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	15413
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2024 answer text <p>In March 2022, an Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities Funding and Strategic Development Funding was published. This review was chaired by Sir Robert Chote, who presented the review to the General Synod in July 2022. At that group of sessions, the General Synod passed a motion requesting the commissioning of a follow-up independent review to be completed before the July 2024 group of sessions. This review will be commissioned as requested in the motion.</p><p>The original Chote review, with the response, can be found here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2022-06%2Fgs-2261-review-of-sdf-and-linc-funding.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C36708d7edb7542596f2408dc37cd5a37%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638446603167712010%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=oSMvzlCiwHBOGdcjXGPO0EAqB7A3KCNdYR6WuOfPhdE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/gs-2261-review-of-sdf-and-linc-funding.pdf</a></p><p>The motion passed by General Synod in July 2022 can be found here (Item 70 on page 14): <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2022-09%2Fbusiness-done-consolidated.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C36708d7edb7542596f2408dc37cd5a37%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638446603167717965%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=pVb5naUPVYv2x%2BOPGfsZBU6l3VpJ0VTgg%2BfEL%2BA7EVo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/business-done-consolidated.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 28/02/2024 21:48:55 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1681257

registered interest
date	10/01/2024
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Paula Vennells
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what role Paula Vennells had in advising the Commissioners after 2019; and which committees she attended.
tabling member constituency	West Dorset
tabling member printed	Chris Loder
uin	9090
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2024 answer text <p>In the spring of 2019 the House of Bishops discussed why some of the recommendations of the Church Buildings Review, which was approved by the General Synod in November 2015, had not been implemented. Paula Vennells was subsequently asked by the Archbishops to undertake a lessons learnt review. During the course of the review its remit was expanded to look at the wider working together of the National Church Institutions (NCIs), including issues around organisational governance, leadership and culture. The report, ‘Church Buildings Review- Lessons Learnt’, was completed in October 2019 and Paula Vennells attended a meeting of the House of Bishops in December 2019 at which it was presented.</p><p>In February 2020 Paula Vennells was invited to attend the Church Commissioners Board of Governors for a discussion of the Lessons Learnt report, but she was unable to attend and the report was considered in her absence. The Lessons Learnt report was considered by the Archbishops’ Council in March 2020, again in the absence of Paula Vennells, who was invited but unable to attend.</p><p>In March 2020 the Archbishops established a Coordinating Group, to continue the work of the Triennium Funding Working Group, and to coordinate certain strands of national work for the Church during the Covid 19 pandemic. Paula Vennells was invited to join the Coordinating Group and to lead on the part focusing on Governance. She attended three meetings of the Group, in April, May and June 2020 and sent apologies to two further meetings in June and July, before withdrawing from the work. The Coordinating Group became what is now the Emerging Church Steering Group. A Governance Review group under the Chairmanship of the Bishop of Leeds proceeded from August 2020, without the involvement of Paula Vennells.</p><p>The Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) is convened and funded by the three National Investment Bodies, to whom it provides ethical investment advice. Paula Vennells was appointed to the EIAG by its Nominations Committee and was a member between March 2019 and April 2021. She attended two meetings, in March and October 2019, and sent apologies for meetings thereafter until she took leave of absence from the Group from June 2020, lasting until her resignation in April 2021. More information about the EIAG can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/ethical-investment-advisory-group" target="_blank">Ethical Investment Advisory Group | The Church of England</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 15/01/2024 17:07:36 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4751 label Biography information for Chris Loder

1669316

registered interest
date	09/11/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Church of St Peter and St Paul
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church Commissioners will review the decision to demolish the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Birch, Essex.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	900092
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners have been closely involved with local and diocesan discussions on the future of St Peter &amp; St Paul, Birch. The Commissioners are responsible for the oversight and management of the relevant legislation and have ensured that the decision-making to allow demolition has followed due process</p><p><br>Whilst the Commissioners have no plans to review the decision, it is now for the Diocese of Chelmsford to take forward the demolition (or not as they may decide).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 16/11/2023 16:22:47 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1666751

registered interest
date	23/10/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Religious Freedom: EU Countries and Middle East
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Church's position is on freedom of religion in conflict zones in (a) the Middle East and (b) Europe.
tabling member constituency	Bournemouth West
tabling member printed	Sir Conor Burns
uin	203801
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>The National Church Institutions recognise that freedom of religion or belief, like other human rights, is strongly correlated with political stability, and that repression of freedom of religion or belief, whether by societal hostility or state discrimination, can serve as major drivers of conflict and violence.</p><p>Sadly, in too many parts of the world today, whether that be in Russia or Ukraine, or in Iraq and Israel, the discrimination against or targeting of religious minorities is commonly associated with rising social tensions, intercommunal strife, violence and even mass atrocities.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/10/2023 10:35:49 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	3922 label Biography information for Sir Conor Burns

1666082

registered interest
date	19/10/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Church of England: Gaza and Israel
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what support the Church of England has provided to (a) churches and (b) other people in (i) Israel and (ii) Gaza since 7 October 2023.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	203517
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2023 answer text <p>Following the events of 7th October, the Archbishops of York and Canterbury called on Christians, and people of all faiths and none, to pray for the victims of the terrorist attacks by Hamas and for the innocent affected by the conflict.</p><p>The Archbishop of Canterbury visited Jerusalem, from 19<sup>th</sup> – 22<sup>nd</sup> October 2023, to stand in prayerful solidarity with the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem following damage to the Al-Ahli Hospital and to show pastoral care and support to all those affected by the war. During the visit, the Archbishop met with those who had lost loved ones as a result of the 7 October attacks. Several dioceses are supporting humanitarian appeals to support the ongoing work of the Al–Ahli Hospital.</p><p>The Archbishop of Canterbury’s most recent comments on the issue of Israel and Gaza can be found here: <a href="https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements" target="_blank">https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 24/10/2023 12:16:47 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1663443

registered interest
date	13/10/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Church of England: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Commissioners are taking to ensure the Lowest Income Communities Funding meets the objective of assisting clergy and parishes in hardest to reach communities.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	201297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2023 answer text <p>The Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities Funding and Strategic Development Funding led by Sir Robert Chote was published in March 2022 and can be read here: <em><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/irls-final-report-2.pdf%20" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/irls-final-report-2.pdf </a></em></p><p>In respect of meeting the objective of assisting clergy and parishes in hardest to reach communities the Review recommended:</p><ul><li>Recommendation 2 - &quot;Refocusing annual returns … towards more strategic reporting&quot;.</li><li>Recommendation 3 - asked staff to &quot;identify and promote best practice … perhaps convening a learning symposium&quot;.</li><li>Recommendation 5 – asked staff to &quot;communicate more clearly the extent to which LInC funding is sustaining ministry&quot;.</li></ul><p>The action taken so far by the Archbishops' Council's Vision and Strategy team in response to those recommendations has been to:</p><ul><li>Raise the profile of LInC funding within ongoing strategic conversations between its staff and diocesan teams, as part of dioceses' strategic development processes, with the aim of improving its effectiveness.</li><li>Ask dioceses to give information about the intended outcomes from their planned use of LInC funding, together with how they will be measured, as part of their annual return on LInC funding for 2022.</li><li>Plan a learning event to bring together diocesan representatives to share and develop their approaches on the use of LInC funding, aiming to improve the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of LInC funding.</li></ul><p>From the start of 2023, the new Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB), a committee of the Archbishops' Council, has replaced the previous Strategic Investment Board and Strategic Ministry Board. It distributes and monitors funds made available by the Church Commissioners and Archbishops' Council via LInC, SDF, and other similar funds.</p><p>More information about the role the SMMIB plays can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 24/10/2023 12:18:10 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1653938

registered interest
date	18/07/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many churches have been closed by the Church of England in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	194796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>Between 2010 and 2019, 209 consecrated churches were formally closed, which amounted to just over 1%. Since the 1990s the rate of closure has remained steady at 20-25 per year out of a total of around 16,000 church buildings. It is important to note that new churches are also being built and that some congregations meet in other kinds of buildings.</p><p>More information can be found in the annual reports of the Church Commissioners, which are available in the House of Commons Library, or online here, in the sections for ‘Mission, Pastoral and Church Property’ or ‘Pastoral Administration’: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/church-commissioners-england/how-we-are-governed/publications" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/church-commissioners-england/how-we-are-governed/publications</a></p><p>Churches are first and foremost places of worship. The 2017 Taylor Review into sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals ( <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/669667/Taylor_Review_Final.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/669667/Taylor_Review_Final.pdf</a> ) found that the Government could also enable the church to serve local communities better by reviewing planning law around listed buildings, to enable Local Authorities to think more imaginatively about diversification and wider use. For over a decade the Church of England’s own ‘open and sustainable churches’ programme, has encouraged churches to consider partnering with a wide variety of community resources (e.g. post offices, village shops, children’s play areas, credit unions, foodbanks, co-working spaces) in sharing space: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/sharing-your-building-and-finding" target="_blank">Sharing your building and finding partners | The Church of England</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/09/2023 20:19:22 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1653939

registered interest
date	18/07/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Repairs and Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Church of England's estimate is of the capital cost of outstanding repairs for parish churches.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	194797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>The National Church Institutions do not hold statistics on outstanding repairs for parish churches, collectively or by diocese.</p><p>The Church Commissioners and Archbishops' Council have agreed funding of £11 million for 2023-25 in support of Buildings for Mission, which includes £2m for places of worship maintenance/repairs, and funding for up to 20 support officers to work with communities on the care of their church buildings. This is alongside a one-off commitment of £190 million (over nine years) to support the whole Church, including its buildings, in the transition towards Net Zero 2030.</p><p>12,500 church buildings are listed, with 45% of all England's Grade I listed buildings being cathedrals and churches. The average annual cost for the maintenance and repairs to parish churches alone is estimated at £150 million, and the maintenance of our churches across the country is mostly financed by generous local donors and volunteers. Support and advice, including on available grants, is available from ChurchCare: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare(opens in a new tab)</a></p><p>The Church remains grateful for the continuation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme as it was for the Culture Recovery Fund. Money invested in church buildings has positive benefits to the wider community: the 2021 House of Good report by the National Churches Trust (<a href="https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/" target="_blank">https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/(opens in a new tab)</a>) found that &quot;the annual social and economic value of church buildings to the UK is worth around £55 billion. This sum, calculated using the latest HM Treasury Green Book guidance, includes the contribution churches make to wellbeing and to local economies.&quot;</p><p>By means of an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill in the House of Lords, the Government has recently agreed to make it clear that churches are legally able to access Local Authority grant funding. This clarification is very welcome and comes in response to many years of advocacy by church, heritage and Local Authority groups. The removal of ambiguity means that Local Authorities and parish councils in England will enable seed funding to repair, restore and upgrade facilities, helping churches to continue to serve their local communities as worship spaces, community hubs, and through social action projects.</p><p>The Church is committed to engaging with the Government on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2017 Taylor Review into the sustainability of church buildings (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-taylor-review-sustainability-of-english-churches-and-cathedrals" target="_blank">The Taylor Review: Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)</a>)</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 194798 question first answered 12/09/2023 20:25:15 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1653940

registered interest
date	18/07/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Repairs and Maintenance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Church of England's estimate is of the capital cost of outstanding repairs for parish churches in each diocese.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	194798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>The National Church Institutions do not hold statistics on outstanding repairs for parish churches, collectively or by diocese.</p><p>The Church Commissioners and Archbishops' Council have agreed funding of £11 million for 2023-25 in support of Buildings for Mission, which includes £2m for places of worship maintenance/repairs, and funding for up to 20 support officers to work with communities on the care of their church buildings. This is alongside a one-off commitment of £190 million (over nine years) to support the whole Church, including its buildings, in the transition towards Net Zero 2030.</p><p>12,500 church buildings are listed, with 45% of all England's Grade I listed buildings being cathedrals and churches. The average annual cost for the maintenance and repairs to parish churches alone is estimated at £150 million, and the maintenance of our churches across the country is mostly financed by generous local donors and volunteers. Support and advice, including on available grants, is available from ChurchCare: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare(opens in a new tab)</a></p><p>The Church remains grateful for the continuation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme as it was for the Culture Recovery Fund. Money invested in church buildings has positive benefits to the wider community: the 2021 House of Good report by the National Churches Trust (<a href="https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/" target="_blank">https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/(opens in a new tab)</a>) found that &quot;the annual social and economic value of church buildings to the UK is worth around £55 billion. This sum, calculated using the latest HM Treasury Green Book guidance, includes the contribution churches make to wellbeing and to local economies.&quot;</p><p>By means of an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill in the House of Lords, the Government has recently agreed to make it clear that churches are legally able to access Local Authority grant funding. This clarification is very welcome and comes in response to many years of advocacy by church, heritage and Local Authority groups. The removal of ambiguity means that Local Authorities and parish councils in England will enable seed funding to repair, restore and upgrade facilities, helping churches to continue to serve their local communities as worship spaces, community hubs, and through social action projects.</p><p>The Church is committed to engaging with the Government on the implementation of the recommendations of the 2017 Taylor Review into the sustainability of church buildings (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-taylor-review-sustainability-of-english-churches-and-cathedrals" target="_blank">The Taylor Review: Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)</a>)</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 194797 question first answered 12/09/2023 20:25:15 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq