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

1109825

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Voting Behaviour
	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 is taking to improve democratic participation among its lay members.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	240953
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England encourages responsible democratic participation in its schools and parishes, as one of the stakeholders involved with UK Parliament Week, and as a provider of hustings and other forms of engagement at election times. The General Synod is the Church’s own national legislative body, to which lay members can be elected. The Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament is expected soon to consider a Church Measure that will reform and simplify Church representation rules on elections for Parochial Church Councils, Deanery and Diocesan Synods.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 08/04/2019 15:57:40 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1141745

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Transgender People
	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 of England will clarify its interpretation of biblical teaching on sex and gender in relation to transgender issues.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	281580
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England is currently undertaking a consultative process called ‘Living in Love and Faith’, which is considering all matters of sexuality and gender.</p><p>In 2018 the House of Bishops issued Pastoral Guidance for use in conjunction with the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith in the context of gender transition, which can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/Pastoral%20Guidance-Affirmation-Baptismal-Faith.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/Pastoral%20Guidance-Affirmation-Baptismal-Faith.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/09/2019 14:05:54 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

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

1109827

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Pregnancy
	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 is taking to support women with unplanned pregnancies.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	240954
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England provides a wide range of pastoral care through its national network of 12,600 parishes and 18,000 active ordained clergy assisted by 10,000 licensed lay ministers. This care is offered to all regardless of Church affiliation or religious belief. The most effective pastoral care builds a relationship through which a person can be accompanied through difficult situations - rather than offering a service in which the person becomes the client.</p><p>Pastoral care at parish level is extended to women with unwanted pregnancies on the basis that ‘<em>Every possible support, especially by Church members, needs to be given to those who are pregnant in difficult circumstances and care, support and compassion must be shown to all whether or not they continue with their pregnancy.</em>’ (General Synod July 2017: written answer was given by the Chair of Mission and Public Affairs Council in response to a question on the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act).</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 08/04/2019 15:57:11 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1125722

	registered interest
	date	09/05/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Overseas Aid: Sri Lanka
	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 International Development on ensuring aid reaches people in Sri Lanka who need it most.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	252646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England has had no discussions with the Department for International Development on aid to Sri Lanka, but the Diocese of Leeds which has had a companion link with Sri Lanka for nearly 40 years, is in regular contact with the Anglican church of Sri Lanka, as to how best the Church can contribute to human flourishing in Sri Lanka.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 13/05/2019 15:05:33 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