Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1247741

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Religious Buildings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the evidential basis is for the closure of covid-19 secure places of worship under the lockdown restrictions announced on 31 October 2020; and what assessment he has made using public health data of the level of infection from those places of worship during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	110179
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>The Government has listened carefully to the views of the scientific community, in particular the information from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and its sub-groups when taking decisions on the best way to tackle the pandemic. SAGE advice continues to inform the decisions made by the Government, including the announcement made on 31 October.</p><p>In view of the increase in the R Rate, we had to take action to reduce the level of infection to protect our communities and save lives which is why we made the decision to close a broad range of premises, including places of worship for communal prayer. These measures are designed to limit the number of interactions that people have and therefore reduce the risk spread.</p><p>Data and scientific advice informing the fight against COVID-19 are published on gov.uk and specific relevant findings are shared in presentations accompanying significant policy announcements.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 05/11/2020 17:24:57 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1247790

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Religious Buildings: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the risk of covid-19 spreading in places of worship where hygiene and social distancing measures are followed.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	110078
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>We are very grateful to our faith communities for all their efforts to ensure their places of worship are as Covid-secure as possible. However, the evidence from the scientific community, and from SAGE is that the rate of infection continues to rise and we need to reduce the level of interaction and the number of gatherings that take place. The closure of places of worship for communal prayer is one such decision.</p><p>These restrictions have not been introduced lightly. We recognise that religious practice is of fundamental importance to millions of people which is why we are enabling individual prayer in places of worship for those religions who practice in this way.</p><p>The regulations now in force will expire on 2 December, at which point we hope to be able to ease restrictions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 10/11/2020 17:12:45 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1247791

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Religious Buildings: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the closure of places of worship in response to covid-19 lockdown restrictions on the (a) mental health and (b) physical wellbeing of people who regularly attend religious services and gatherings.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	110079
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>We know how vital places of worship are to many people’s health and wellbeing. They play an important role in spiritual and mental health, and in bringing our communities together.</p><p>However, we cannot ignore the fact that the rate of infection is rising. The closure of our places of worship for communal prayer is to limit the number of interactions, thereby protecting the health of our community and the NHS.</p><p>The regulations now in force will expire on 2 December, at which point we hope to able to ease restrictions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 10/11/2020 17:13:10 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1247806

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Religious Buildings: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the scientific evidence used to support the decision to extend covid-19 lockdown restrictions to places of worship and religious gatherings.
tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
uin	110197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>We have had to make some tough decisions to fight this deadly virus and the decision to close our places of worship has not been taken lightly.</p><p>In all decisions we have been guided by scientific and medical advice and we have listened carefully to the views of the scientific community, in particular the information from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and its sub-groups. The R-Rate is above 1 across England, therefore we must limit our interaction with others.</p><p>This has sadly meant that we have had to close a broad range of premises where people interact and gather, including places of worship.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 05/11/2020 17:25:28 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1247823

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Collective Worship: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support communal religious worship while churches, mosques and other premises are closed for services.
tabling member constituency	Fylde
tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
uin	110113
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>We know how important communal worship is within many of our faith communities, but to limit the spread of the virus, places of worship will be closed for communal prayer. However, they will be permitted to open for individual prayer and to record or livestream services so that worshippers can participate at home. In addition, funerals can be attended by a maximum of thirty people.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 10/11/2020 17:13:34 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

1247829

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Collective Worship and Weddings: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the (a) covid-19 lockdown process on the human right to practice religion corporately and (b) ban on marriages during lockdown on the right to family life.
tabling member constituency	Gainsborough
tabling member printed	Sir Edward Leigh
uin	110039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right, and one which underpins many of the others. The closure of our places of worship for communal prayer and for weddings is a step to be considered only in the most exceptional circumstances. However, our view is that this is a qualified right, subject to necessary limitations in the interest of public safety.</p><p>This includes the protection of health to protect the fundamental right to life of the population set out in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 2 remains the overriding concern for the protection of the nation’s health as a whole.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 10/11/2020 17:11:33 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	345 label Biography information for Sir Edward Leigh

1247830

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Collective Worship: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Places of Worship Taskforce was consulted on the announcement that communal worship will not be allowed during the new covid-19 lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Gainsborough
tabling member printed	Sir Edward Leigh
uin	110040
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>The Places of Worship Taskforce met on 2 November. In addition, roundtables have been held with the country’s major faith groups to discuss the now published guidance.</p><p>Discussions with our faith groups at these meetings, as they have been throughout the pandemic, have proved to be extremely helpful in sharing information with our faith groups, as well as hearing of their concerns. We are very grateful to all members of the Taskforce for their support and understanding during these difficult times for our faith communities, and we will continue to draw on the expertise of the Taskforce members.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 10/11/2020 17:12:05 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	345 label Biography information for Sir Edward Leigh

1247839

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Religious Buildings: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the latest public health guidance on covid-19 and (a) communal worship and (b) private worship in churches, synagogues, mosques and temples in England.
tabling member constituency	St Helens North
tabling member printed	Conor McGinn
uin	110175
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>Our approach has always been guided by scientific and medical advice and we have listened carefully to the views of the scientific community, in particular the information from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and its sub-groups. The number of Covid-19 cases is growing at an exponential rate so we have needed to act to limit our interaction with others.</p><p>This has sadly meant that we have had to make the difficult decision to close our places of worship for communal worship as we need to minimise social contact wherever we can for this short period of time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 05/11/2020 17:20:51 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	4458 label Biography information for Conor McGinn

1247840

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Religious Buildings: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to provide updated covid-19 guidance for places of worship in advance of the forthcoming national lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	110237
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>On 2 November, we convened a meeting of the Places of Worship Taskforce and held a series of roundtables with representatives of our major faiths. This gave us the opportunity to provide the latest information to our faith representatives and to hear their concerns. This has helped us to shape the guidance ahead of the new regulations coming into effect on 5 November.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 05/11/2020 17:25:18 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1247841

registered interest
date	02/11/2020
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Mosques: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Muslim Council of Britain on providing guidance to Mosques ahead of the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
uin	110238
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>On 2 November we held a meeting of the Places of Worship Taskforce. We have also held roundtables with a broad range of representatives from all major faiths, including from the Islamic faith, to discuss the forthcoming restrictions,</p><p>These discussions, as they have been throughout the pandemic, have proved invaluable in sharing information with all our faith communities, and for hearing their concerns. We remain very grateful for the understanding of faith communities during these difficult times.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 05/11/2020 17:29:08 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan