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828329

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Religion: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Church of England has had with the Department for Education on ensuring that religious studies remains a priority in schools.
	tabling member constituency	Gillingham and Rainham
	tabling member printed	Rehman Chishti
	uin	903525
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2018 answer text <p>The Education Office of the Church of England is in regular dialogue with the Department for Education and is a member of the ‘Faith Providers’ group, which meets frequently with the Department to discuss a range of issues connected with schools of a religious character. One of the issues that the Office has raised in those discussions is the concern that Religious Education is not included within the EBacc.</p><p>The Education Office has also submitted written and oral evidence to the Commission on Religious Education and, following the publication of its interim report, has discussed its findings with the Commissioners. The Education Office is part of a programme run by the Theos Think Tank, bringing together leading players in RE with officials from the Department for Education and also the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government to discuss a range of issues including RE.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 25/01/2018 16:35:23 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	3987 label Biography information for Rehman Chishti

819808

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Redundant Churches: Eastbourne
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church Commissioners will extend the period for consultation on the proposed demolition of St Elisabeth's Church, Eastbourne, while continuing with their plans to develop that site.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	121880
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2018 answer text <p>The consultation period concerning the draft Pastoral (Church Buildings Disposal) Scheme for the demolition of St Elisabeth’s Church at Eastbourne ran from the 17<sup>th</sup> November until the 8<sup>th</sup> of January. The publication of the consultation followed a period of extensive liaison by the Church Commissioners with various interested parties in the future of the closed church. The building has been closed for regular public worship since 2002.</p><p> </p><p>With regard to the future of the murals by Hans Feibusch, the draft Scheme provides for further time (until 1 September 2018) for potential recipients of the murals to produce a viable proposal for their relocation. This period had already been extended and the Church Commissioners remain open to discussions with any interested party in resolving their future.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 15/01/2018 18:16:29 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

800864

	registered interest
	date	05/12/2017
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Pupils: Bullying
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment has been made of the merits of the Church of England's recent guidance to nursery and primary school teachers on transphobic bullying.
	tabling member constituency	North East Hampshire
	tabling member printed	Mr Ranil Jayawardena
	uin	902815
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2017 answer text <p>The Church of England Education Office issued an updated version of their Valuing All God’s Children guidance in November 2017. This guidance is designed to support primary and secondary schools in addressing homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. The new guidance reflects the latest equalities legislation, enabling schools to be inclusive environments where all pupils are treated with dignity and respect in line with the Church of England’s Vision for Education.</p><p>The guidance has been distributed to every Church of England primary and secondary school along with every Diocesan Director of Education. This guidance has been welcomed by the schools and Directors of Education. Training to accompany the guidance will be rolled out to dioceses and schools from February next year.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 07/12/2017 11:04:38 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4498 label Biography information for Mr Ranil Jayawardena

675437

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2017
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Prisons: Religion
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to increase provision of spiritual guidance in prisons.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	60949
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2017 answer text <p>Chaplains (both employed and voluntary) work in teams, and in many places these are well supported by local churches and Christian charities. The work of Prison Fellowship, Reflex, Community Chaplaincy and other such organisations is especially important in this regard.</p><p>There is an Anglican chaplaincy presence in every prison. When vacancies arise, dioceses work with the National Offender Management Service to support the process of appointing a suitable person. While Chaplains are employed within NOMS, Church of England Chaplains are licensed by their local bishop and bishops are being encouraged to support chaplains in their areas. Bishops provide endorsement and often convene Diocesan meetings to support those in chaplaincy as well as chaplains attending deanery and diocesan events from time to time. The Bishop to HM Prisons (the Lord Bishop of Rochester) is also working with the Chaplain-General and others about arranging an event specifically for Church of England Chaplains.</p><p>The Bishop to Prisons is also one of the sponsors of a new national initiative called Prison Hope. This has the intention of strengthening the links between chaplaincy, local churches and Christian and wider community organisations. This initiative was launched at HMP Pentonville in October, and will run through 2017 into 2018. It has significant potential to increase the level of prison volunteering, to the benefit of prisoners, those who work in prisons, victims of crime and wider communities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 24/01/2017 17:16:03 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

889931

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Out-of-school Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, could she update the House on the view of the Church of England’s Education Office following the publication of the Government’s response to the Out-of-school education consultation.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	136983
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2018 answer text <p>Following the publication of the findings from the Department for Education’s consultation on out-of-school education, the Church of England’s Chief Education Officer, the Revd Nigel Genders, said: “We welcome the Government’s response to the consultation and the proposals to focus resources and energy on the areas of most concern rather than creating unhelpful bureaucracy.” The Church of England will go on working with Government on any proposal that would achieve this outcome.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 30/05/2018 14:33:00 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

758630

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2017
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Martin Luther
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what events and activities the Diocese of Blackburn is undertaking to mark the Quincentenary of the nailing of Ninety-five Theses by Martin Luther on the door of All Saints' Church, Wittenberg, on 31 October 1517.
	tabling member constituency	Preston
	tabling member printed	Mr Mark Hendrick
	uin	9589
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>Church of England dioceses are marking the 500<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation in Europe and parishes are being encourage to commemorate the anniversary in a variety of ways. For example in my own parish of Knowle, a sermon series will be held. Information on some of the main events being run across the Church can be seen here: <a href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fabout-us%2Fwork-other-churches%2Freformation-anniversary.aspx&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccaroline.spelman.mp%40parliament.uk%7Cbbc1685112df4c3c74fb08d50efd5279%7C1ce6dd9eb3374088be5e8dbbec04b34a%7C0%7C0%7C636431403555587103&amp;sdata=ju%2FOecFACae7msYLsYPefLXCOwB3B3TELW5P9gX9vAk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/work-other-churches/reformation-anniversary.aspx</a></p><p>At Westminster Abbey on 31<sup>st</sup> October at noon there will be a service to mark the Anniversary led by the Dean of Westminster, with an Address given by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Among those attending will be representatives of Lutheran churches in the United Kingdom.</p><p>Blackburn Diocese is planning two large scale events. The first is to be hosted by the local Churches Together network at Blackburn Cathedral on Thursday 19<sup>th</sup> October at 2pm. More information is at: <a href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackburn.anglican.org%2Fevents%2F67%2Freformation-500-service-at-cathedral&amp;data=02%7C01%7Ccaroline.spelman.mp%40parliament.uk%7Cbbc1685112df4c3c74fb08d50efd5279%7C1ce6dd9eb3374088be5e8dbbec04b34a%7C0%7C0%7C636431403555587103&amp;sdata=QREnzncusQ9EVbyhTkQUmlx8sgb6sB5GvEV%2FVegqdcI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/events/67/reformation-500-service-at-cathedral</a> The Diocese is also holding a discussion evening with the Bishop of Burnley at Whalley Abbey on Monday 30<sup>th</sup> October, 7pm.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 09/10/2017 14:01:27 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

722427

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2017
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Reform
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what the policy of the Church of England is on reducing the membership of the House of Lords.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	909694
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2017 answer text <p>In December the House of Lords passed a motion that its size ought to be reduced. The Bishop of Birmingham, who is Convenor of the Lords Spiritual, supported that motion and has since made a submission to the Committee set up by the Lord Speaker to look at options for reducing the size. Its report is awaited.</p><p>For many years now the public responses of the Church to proposals for Lords reform have highlighted the problem of the Second Chamber being too large and have called for action to address it.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 20/04/2017 15:36:50 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

722426

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2017
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Homelessness
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to support local projects tackling homelessness.
	tabling member constituency	Torbay
	tabling member printed	Kevin Foster
	uin	71313
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>At parish and diocesan level the Church is closely involved in providing support to homeless people through night shelters and other activities, and raising funds and awareness. Recently in the House of Lords bishops supported the Homelessness Reduction Bill.</p><p>In the Torbay area the Vicar on the Streets initiative undertaken by Revd Gary Deighton of St George's Church, Goodrington, and the Winter Night Shelter run by local churches have both made a real difference to the issues of homelessness. The clergy and parishioners of Goodrington and Torbay have raised nearly five thousand pounds over the period of Lent to support the Shekinah Mission, which works across Devon to provide a safe space for people to develop their skills, regain their self-worth and go on to live independent and fulfilling lives.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 24/04/2017 10:03:04 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4451 label Biography information for Kevin Foster

827259

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Fracking
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Rt. Hon. Member for Meriden representing the Church Commissioners what the policy of the Church of England is on fracking on land owned by the Church of England.
	tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
	tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
	uin	123905
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2018 answer text <p>All oil and gas deposits in the UK are owned by the Crown. There are no plans for the Church Commissioners to use its land or mineral rights for the purpose of fracking.</p><p>As a policy, The Church Commissioners do not seek applications for seismic drilling/exploration and fracking. Allowing seismic testing/exploratory drilling does not imply approval of fracking, litigation risks arise for landowners should they wish to oppose a request to carry out geophysical surveys on their land. The Church Commissioners seek to minimise this risk.</p><p>The Church Commissioners are responsible landowners and landlords and we seek to protect both our interests and those of our tenants. The Church does not have an official position on fracking and recognises it’s a controversial and evolving issue and people within the church hold a range of views. The Church of England issued a Briefing Paper on Shale Gas and Fracking in December 2016 which can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-11/shale-gas-and-fracking.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-11/shale-gas-and-fracking.pdf </a><br></p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 25/01/2018 09:28:11 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper

855895

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Financial Services: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are being taken to roll out financial education in Church of England schools.
	tabling member constituency	Stalybridge and Hyde
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Reynolds
	uin	904237
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2018 answer text <p>In a recent submission to the Department for Education consultation on the future of PSHE education the Just Finance Foundation set up by the Archbishop of Canterbury reported that 40% of UK adults have less than £100 in savings and struggled to manage money. The impact of potential lifelong indebtedness makes financial capability an issue of pressing importance for younger generations. The Church of England approached this through the foundation of an education programme called LifeSavers.</p><p>LifeSavers was designed to practically demonstrate­ how schools can weave financial education throughout the teaching and life of the school in a way that is sustainable. Funding has currently has enabled the scheme to operate in 70 schools with a further 50 next year. Half of the number of LifeSavers schools operate in Church of England schools and more than 15,600­­­ pupils have already taken part in LifeSavers, and over 1,200 teachers have been trained through its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme. ­The results seen by the Just Finance Foundation to their projects has led them to press the Department for Education to put financial education on an equal footing within the PSHE curriculum.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 08/03/2018 14:54:35 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4119 label Biography information for Jonathan Reynolds