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1401966

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2022
	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: Public Relations
	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 much the Church of England spent on (a) public affairs and (b) reputation management organisations in financial year 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	West Dorset
	tabling member printed	Chris Loder
	uin	101841
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2022 answer text <p>It is not possible to give a cumulative figure for expenditure on public affairs for the Church of England, as each National Church Institution, diocese and parish is a separate charity and this information is not collected.</p><p>At a national level public affairs functions are not limited to a specific branch of the National Church Institutions. The Faith and Public Life team of the Archbishop’s Council (formerly MPA: the Mission and Public Affairs Division) handles much of the Church of England’s national engagement with Government, Parliament and policymakers but also has responsibility for work that is not public affairs. In the transition from MPA to the Faith and Public Life team under the Transforming Effectiveness process, the total number of NCI staff working in those public affairs roles has been cut.</p><p>The Archbishops’ Council Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 can be seen here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2021-06%2FGS%25202211%2520AC_annual_report_and_financial_statements_for_year_ended_31_December_2020.pdf&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C043d18e7ab6943cd73cc08d9d6bb902b%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C637776924236020443%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=cZ3D1WMXw4zBYl1wwTcjYZrxMqvscE5Ox6jMFgVF0nE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">GS 2211 AC_annual_report_and_financial_statements_for_year_ended_31_December_2020.pdf (churchofengland.org)</a></p><p>The Church Commissioners for England Annual Report 2020 can be seen here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2021-06%2FChurch%2520Commissioners%2520Annual%2520Report%25202020.pdf&amp;data=04%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C043d18e7ab6943cd73cc08d9d6bb902b%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C637776924236020443%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=tnkFrMXg83UXKrVMroRp77K551XvsRMvDzzvalnanqI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Church%20Commissioners%20Annual%20Report%202020.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 13/01/2022 17:44:16 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4751 label Biography information for Chris Loder

1242537

	registered interest
	date	12/10/2020
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Leicestershire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps he is taking to support churches across Leicestershire to conduct Christmas services in 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Bosworth
	tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
	uin	102186
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2020 answer text <p>The Church of England’s seasonal campaign ‘Comfort and Joy’ will provide online, booklet and social media resources for all parishes and worshippers to use and enjoy this Advent and Christmas. More information is available here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/preparing-advent-christmas-2020-comfort-and-joy" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/preparing-advent-christmas-2020-comfort-and-joy</a></p><p> </p><p>Following the Government announcement of a second lockdown, churches have been required to close again for public worship, though I am hopeful this will lift at the end of lockdown on 2nd December and that public worship can resume, with the necessary social distancing rules in place, during Advent and Christmas. The Church of England remains in dialogue with the Government about this as part of the Government’s Places of Worship Task Force. I commend the work of clergy and volunteers across the country during this very challenging time.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 17/11/2020 14:56:42 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1548626

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2022
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Energy
	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 he expects dioceses to pass the Energy Costs Grant direct to parishes.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	102787
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/12/2022 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners were pleased to provide £15m to the Archbishops’ Council for distribution to dioceses for Energy Costs Grants. All dioceses received a share of this Grant in October. The main purpose of the Grant is to help Parochial Church Councils to cover the increased cost of heating and lighting church buildings this winter. <br> <br> Dioceses are also able to use some of their Grants to supplement the £3m Ministers’ Hardship Fund announced earlier in the year to provide targeted hardship payments for clergy and other employed ministers to cover household bills, in particular energy costs.</p><p>The Church Commissioners intend to gather feedback in the New Year to see how much of the Grant dioceses have allocated, by what mechanism they distributed it, and what proportion was used to supplement the Ministry Hardship Fund.</p><p>In addition to support for parishes and clergy, the Church of England has opened its doors locally to support or provide Warm Spaces. These may be in churches, village halls or other suitable community spaces such as libraries or cafes. More information about the Warm Welcome Campaign and where to locate your nearest warm space can be found here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.warmwelcome.uk%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C3ca826610e6f40ae3a6408dadf8fbee2%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638068105722269117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=UNv1VKQong%2FrED55qfJCCLDSJ%2BqYeM3wBx0MiiY0SbI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.warmwelcome.uk/</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 18/12/2022 17:03:59 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1404288

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2022
	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: Staff
	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 total number of people employed in full and part time diocesan roles across the UK was, excluding parish priests and lay readers, in (a) 1959, (b) 1979, (c) 1989, (d) 1999, (e) 2010 and (f) 2020, including Bishops, Suffragen Bishops, Archdeacons, governance managers, human resource management, operations directors, inclusivity and diversity managers, directors of giving, mission enablers, directors of social justice, environment managers, training leaders, youth leaders, conference centre managers and wardens, and all associated support staff.
	tabling member constituency	Loughborough
	tabling member printed	Jane Hunt
	uin	107739
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2022 answer text <p>No information is held centrally about the number of staff employed by each diocese, so the requested information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.</p><p>For most of the information requested, figures have not been collected consistently, if collected at all. However, the following information about clergy numbers was provided in response to a similar question asked at the General Synod November 2021 group of sessions:</p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Category</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1959</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1979</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2000</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Archdeacons</p></td><td><p><sup> </sup></p></td><td><p>106</p></td><td><p>104</p></td><td><p>106</p></td><td><p>109</p></td><td><p>129</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Suffragan bishops</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>70</p></td><td><p>72</p></td><td><p>67</p></td><td><p>58</p></td><td><p>67</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Diocesan bishops</p></td><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>43</p></td><td><p>43</p></td><td><p>41</p></td><td><p>39</p></td><td><p>39</p></td></tr></tbody></table><ol><li><em>For 1959 to 2000, this includes Suffragan and Assistant Bishops. For 2010 onwards, this includes Suffragan bishops only</em><em> </em></li></ol><ol start="2"><li><em> For 1959, this includes Archbishops and Diocesan Bishops. For 1979, this includes Diocesan Bishops only</em></li></ol><p> </p><p>All figures are taken from publications available on the Church of England web page: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/research-and-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/about/research-and-statistics</a> . These publications also contain methodological information and further detail.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 21/01/2022 20:10:22 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4839 label Biography information for Jane Hunt

1668875

	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 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 steps the Anglican diocese of Jerusalem is taking to help people impacted by the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	1107
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>I am only able to answer on behalf of the National Church Institutions of the Church of England, and cannot on behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.</p><p>One of the significant contributions the Anglican Church makes as a global body is in the provision of healthcare. The Church of England is supporting the Diocese of Jerusalem’s request to launch a financial appeal to support the work of the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. More information is here: <a href="https://j-diocese.org/wordpress/2023/10/24/joint-gaza-appeal-letter-from-the-most-revds-hosam-naoum-and-justin-welby-the-anglican-archbishop-in-jerusalem-and-the-archbishop-of-canterbury/" target="_blank">https://j-diocese.org/wordpress/2023/10/24/joint-gaza-appeal-letter-from-the-most-revds-hosam-naoum-and-justin-welby-the-anglican-archbishop-in-jerusalem-and-the-archbishop-of-canterbury/</a></p><p>Bishops in the House of Lords have committed to continuing to raise issues with His Majesty’s Government around the treatment of the Christian community in Israel, Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.</p><p>The Archbishop of Canterbury paid a pastoral visit to the Diocese of Jerusalem on the 19<sup>th</sup> of October where he met with Christian and Jewish leaders in both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He also met with families affected by the attacks on the 7<sup>th</sup> October. More details of the visit can be found here: <a href="https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/archbishop-canterbury-arrives-jerusalem-pastoral-visit-anglican-church#:~:text=The%20Archbishop%20of%20Canterbury%20has%20begun%20a%20pastoral,Archbishop%20in%20Jerusalem%2C%20the%20Most%20Revd%20Hosam%20Naoum." target="_blank">https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/archbishop-canterbury-arrives-jerusalem-pastoral-visit-anglican-church#:~:text=The%20Archbishop%20of%20Canterbury%20has%20begun%20a%20pastoral,Archbishop%20in%20Jerusalem%2C%20the%20Most%20Revd%20Hosam%20Naoum.</a></p><p>Subsequently, the Archbishop spoke in a special debate in the House of Lords, and the House of Bishops released a joint statement, which can be read here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/house-bishops-oct-30-nov-1-2023" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/house-bishops-oct-30-nov-1-2023</a></p><p>The Archbishop of Canterbury also addressed the conflict in his presidential address to the November meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England, which also included a pastoral message from the Archbishop of Jerusalem. You can read the presidential address here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/archbishops-presidential-address-synod" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/archbishops-presidential-address-synod</a> The Archbishop of Jerusalem’s speech is available here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/archbishop-jerusalem-addresses-synod-call-ceasefire-and-plea-peace" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/archbishop-jerusalem-addresses-synod-call-ceasefire-and-plea-peace</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 27/11/2023 09:25:01 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1249878

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2020
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Religious Buildings: Coronavirus
	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 discussions the Church Commissioners have had with the Government on allowing places of worship to remain open during lockdown if they continue to implement additional covid-secure measures.
	tabling member constituency	Newton Abbot
	tabling member printed	Anne Marie Morris
	uin	112061
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2020 answer text <p>Following the Government announcement of a second lockdown, churches have been required to close again for public worship, between 5<sup>th</sup> November and 2<sup>nd</sup> December. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of London and senior Christian and other faith leaders wrote to the Prime Minister about this and their letter can be read here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/Faith%20communities%20letter%20to%20Prime%20MInister%20%28ii%29.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/Faith%20communities%20letter%20to%20Prime%20MInister%20%28ii%29.pdf</a>.</p><p>In it they concluded: “We have already said there is no scientific rationale for suspension of Public Worship where it is compliant with the guidance that we have worked jointly with government to establish. We believe government, and Public Health England, accept this. Government is making decisions about what aspects of our life during this period of restrictions are essential. We believe we have demonstrated that continuation of public worship is essential, for all the reasons we have set out above. We call on government to recognise and support this, and enable us to continue to worship safely, as part of the essential fabric of the nation.”</p><p>The Church of England remains in dialogue with the Government about this as part of the Government’s Places of Worship Task Force. I commend the work of clergy and volunteers across the country during this very challenging time.</p><p>Church buildings may remain open for individual prayer where it has been possible to make them COVID-secure. The Church has continued to encourage clergy to broadcast services and make resources available online where possible. Guidance and advice from Public Health England and the Church of England is being distributed to clergy and is published on the Church of England website here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches</a>.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 17/11/2020 14:57:52 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4249 label Biography information for Anne Marie Morris

1250482

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2020
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the effect of churches on community health and wellbeing through their provision of food banks, youth services, mental health services, addiction support services and other community services during the covid-19 outbreak and associated lockdowns.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton West
	tabling member printed	Chris Green
	uin	113564
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2020 answer text <p>The parish church is a key source of community support and I commend the work of clergy and volunteers across the country during this very challenging time.</p><p>Recent research published by Theos and the Church Urban Fund <a href="https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/cmsfiles/GRACE-CUF-v10-combined.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/cmsfiles/GRACE-CUF-v10-combined.pdf</a> and separately by the National Churches Trust <a href="https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/" target="_blank">https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/</a> has shown the substantial social and economic contribution parishes, and cathedrals make to their local communities.</p><p>Across the dioceses of the Church of England churches are operating 35,000 based projects which serve the needs of their communities, I am pleased to say that many of these have continued to operate during the pandemic within the guidelines set out by Government on Covid-19, providing crisis support such as foodbanks, bereavement counselling, night shelters, debt relief advice, as well as project work to combat modern slavery and support victim of domestic abuse.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 17/11/2020 15:04:02 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4398 label Biography information for Chris Green

1250484

	registered interest
	date	10/11/2020
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of (a) trends in the level of closure of churches and (b) the ability of worshipping communities to fund ongoing repairs to church buildings.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton West
	tabling member printed	Chris Green
	uin	113566
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2020 answer text <p>The details of individual parish finances is not generally a matter for the Church Commissioners, though other parts of the National Church Institutions and dioceses have been keeping planned giving and donations under careful review. Churches that have a solid foundation of regular giving through direct debit or standing order appear to be withstanding the pandemic much better than those whose finances were more reliant on church hall income, fundraising events, visitor donations and cash in the offertory plate. During the first national lockdown whilst some parishes saw a substantial drop off in donations others have embraced new technology using digital giving, and social media and, when Church buildings are open, contactless giving.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Although there has been a significant reduction in parish payments to dioceses to fund ministry costs, this has been less than anticipated at the start of the national lockdown, in part boosted by use of reserves as well as the generosity of givers. We grateful to the Government for allocating over £30million from the Culture Recovery Fund to support major churches and cathedrals. The Church Commissioners have also made significant funds available where possible to support music, essential craft and tradespeople alongside sustainability funding and salary support for cathedrals. The continuation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is also important for the future funding of repairs to church buildings and the Archbishops’ Council have made representations to the Treasury about this.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 17/11/2020 17:34:12 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4398 label Biography information for Chris Green

1418155

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2022
	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: Public Relations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2022 to Question 101841 on Church of England: Public Relations, how much Lambeth Palace spent on public affairs in the financial year 2020-2021.
	tabling member constituency	West Dorset
	tabling member printed	Chris Loder
	uin	114934
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2022 answer text <p><em>It is not possible to disaggregate expenditure on all public affairs activity from the overall total working costs for the Archbishop of Canterbury in the financial year 2020-21 without incurring disproportionate cost. During this period the public affairs team at Lambeth Palace comprised a social and public affairs adviser, research officer and a PA. The PA role will be reduced to half time in 2022.</em></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 02/02/2022 17:45:01 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4751 label Biography information for Chris Loder

1252408

	registered interest
	date	16/11/2020
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Cemeteries: Languages
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Church of England’s policy is on non-English language inscriptions on headstones in its graveyards.
	tabling member constituency	St Helens North
	tabling member printed	Conor McGinn
	uin	115720
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2020 answer text <p>There are legal proceedings currently underway on this matter and due to the House of Commons Sub Judice Resolution the Church Commissioners are unable to provide an answer at this time.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 19/11/2020 17:01:43 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4458 label Biography information for Conor McGinn