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1682633

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	answering dept id	216
	answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
	answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
	hansard heading	Digital Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Digital Inclusion Strategy takes account of people who are unable to get online.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Andrew Western
	uin	9968
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring no-one is left behind in this digital age. The 2022 UK Digital Strategy outlined work that will promote digital inclusion and help people to get online, including committing to at least 85% gigabit broadband coverage by 2025 and delivering legislation that will mitigate online harms through the Online Safety Bill (now Act).</p><p> </p><p>Rather than write a standalone Digital Inclusion strategy, the Government is focused on delivering work that will address this issue. This is a cross-Government effort, with work being overseen by a new ministerial group, which will meet twice a year to drive progress.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 9965 question first answered 24/01/2024 11:52:21 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4979 label Biography information for Andrew Western

1682630

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	answering dept id	216
	answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
	answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
	hansard heading	Digital Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to publish a revised Digital Inclusion Strategy.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Andrew Western
	uin	9965
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring no-one is left behind in this digital age. The 2022 UK Digital Strategy outlined work that will promote digital inclusion and help people to get online, including committing to at least 85% gigabit broadband coverage by 2025 and delivering legislation that will mitigate online harms through the Online Safety Bill (now Act).</p><p> </p><p>Rather than write a standalone Digital Inclusion strategy, the Government is focused on delivering work that will address this issue. This is a cross-Government effort, with work being overseen by a new ministerial group, which will meet twice a year to drive progress.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti grouped question UIN 9968 question first answered 24/01/2024 11:52:21 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4979 label Biography information for Andrew Western

1682549

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2024
	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	answering dept id	216
	answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
	answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
	hansard heading	Artificial Intelligence: Women
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to encourage women and girls' involvement in artificial intelligence.
	tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
	tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
	uin	9844
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2024 answer text <p>Government is committed to helping diversify the whole ecosystem and empower diverse, brilliant people right across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>That’s why the government invested £30 million into the AI and Data Science Conversion Course program, which was established to broaden the supply of talent in the UK AI labour market. We are already seeing the positive impact the programme is having: it is increasing the diversity of the student cohort and successfully converting non-STEM students to enter the AI labour market. So far, 73% of scholarships were awarded to women.</p><p> </p><p>Digital skills are fundamental to ensuring everyone can make the most of a digital future. As the department that leads on digital skills, we are focusing on broadening and deepening the pool of talent. The Digital Skills Council convenes stakeholders from across the sector to deliver industry led action on driving the growth of the digital workforce, including widening the skills pipelines, and ensuring tech roles are accessible for all. One of the council’s objectives is to promote mechanisms to provide increasingly diverse access to digital roles and digitally enabled roles.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, since 2017, we have supported the Tech Talent Charter (TTC), a not-for-profit organisation providing research, insights and a practical toolkit to promote diversity in the tech companies. They bring together over 700 signatory organisations, across 42 industry sectors, representing 160,000 people, equipping them with the networks and resources to drive their diversity efforts.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Saqib Bhatti question first answered 24/01/2024 10:47:49 answering member 4818 label Biography information for Saqib Bhatti
	tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

418106

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2015
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Cemeteries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, which Church of England dioceses have published regulations on monuments on burial plots and inscriptions on gravestones; which dioceses (a) allow and (b) do not allow nicknames on gravestones; which dioceses allow monuments; which dioceses (i) allow and (ii) do not allow pictorial etchings on gravestones; and which dioceses (A) allow and (B) do not allow free-standing containers on burial plots.
	tabling member constituency	Preston
	tabling member printed	Mr Mark Hendrick
	uin	9765
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/09/2015 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally, while there is central guidance available, each Diocese and Parish applies the regulations to their local circumstances. Without more specific information about which parish is being referred to in the question further comment is not further comment is not possible.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Our advice would be to contact the Diocesan Registrar for Blackburn will know how these regulations are applied locally. The Registrar can be contacted at the Diocesan Office:</p><p> </p><p>Church House, Cathedral Close, Blackburn, BB1 5AA</p><p> </p><p>You may also wish to refer to page 4 of the Diocesan guide to the churchyard regulations available at the following link. <br>This document gives the general advice for the Diocese of Blackburn.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.blackburn.anglican.org/images/Information/Churchyard%20Regulations%202014.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.blackburn.anglican.org/images/Information/Churchyard%20Regulations%202014.pdf</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Mrs Caroline Spelman question first answered 15/09/2015 12:43:52 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

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

758629

	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	Churches: Fees and Charges
	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 she has made of the effect of admission costs for cathedrals and abbeys in England on the ability of UK families to visit such places.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	9310
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2017 answer text <p>There is no central policy on charging for entry at Church of England churches and cathedrals. It is for the cathedral chapters and church incumbents to decide how best to meet their financial obligations, such as running costs and repairs, and in the case of the most popular, to manage their visitor numbers.</p><p> </p><p>However, only nine out of the 42 Church of England cathedrals, and very few churches, charge for entry. All churches and cathedrals which charge for entry give free access to those attending services and for private prayer, and some give free entry on Sundays and at other times. Many also run a full programme of outreach, education programmes and events for children and families which are accessible at little or no cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 13/09/2017 10:42:15 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1125178

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Christianity: Oppression
	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 progress the Church of England has made on tackling the persecution of Christians throughout the world.
	tabling member constituency	Gillingham and Rainham
	tabling member printed	Rehman Chishti
	uin	910766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England welcomed the decision by the Foreign Secretary to launch an Independent Review into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s support for persecuted Christians.</p><p>On behalf of their two Churches, Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster made a joint submission to the Review. They set out a range of practical recommendations about how the Government could take meaningful action not only in protecting Christians facing persecution but also in promoting freedom of religion and belief more widely.</p><p>Their joint submission can be found here: https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/latest-news/anglicans-and-catholics-make-joint-submission-foreign-office-review-persecuted</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 09/05/2019 11:40:50 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	3987 label Biography information for Rehman Chishti

722425

	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	Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes
	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 support the Church of England provides for people affected by domestic violence and abuse.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Oliver Colvile
	uin	909697
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2017 answer text <p>On 15th March 2017 the Church of England’s House of Bishops published “Responding Well to Domestic Abuse: Policy and Practice Guidance”, which urges church communities to address the issue of domestic abuse and raise awareness of its impact on adults and children. The document can be seen at: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3896806/responding-well-to-domestic-abuse-2017.pdf%20" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3896806/responding-well-to-domestic-abuse-2017.pdf </a></p><p>The updated practice guidance and policy encourages churches to become places of safety where domestic abuse is taken seriously, survivors are believed and respected, and alleged or known perpetrators challenged. The updated document reflects legislative and other changes since guidance was last issued in 2006.</p><p>Under the policy Church leaders and Officers working with children, young people and vulnerable adults will be expected to undergo domestic abuse training, with the issue being raised in appropriate contexts within church life including youth groups, marriage preparation and ordinand training. They will also be expected to work closely with statutory and other specialist organisations.</p><p>In the House of Lords this session bishops supported the passage of the Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 20/04/2017 15:45:09 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4022 label Biography information for Oliver Colvile

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

722068

	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	Debt Rescheduling
	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 take steps to support initiatives which provide indebted households with financial breathing space.
	tabling member constituency	Kettering
	tabling member printed	Mr Philip Hollobone
	uin	909692
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2017 answer text <p>The Church of England supports the Breathing Space campaign of The Children’s Society and StepChange. The Church has considerable experience of supporting people in financial difficulty and has for the last four years been actively promoting credit unions and financial education within its school and church networks. <br>Additionally, as part of the Just Finance Foundation, LifeSavers is a national, financial education programme for primary schools, equipping children with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to manage money well and prepare them for the opportunities and challenges that money brings in life.</p><p>It offers schools:<br>• Free and comprehensive sets of classroom and collective worship resources,<br>• CPD training in how to develop a whole school approach to financial education<br>• advice on setting up a school savings club<br>• ideas for engaging parents designed to give children a practical experience of handling money and ensure that positive messages about money are reinforced at home.</p><p>More information can be found here: <a href="https://justfinancefoundation.org.uk/act/lifesavers/" target="_blank">https://justfinancefoundation.org.uk/act/lifesavers/</a></p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 20/04/2017 16:01:38 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	1537 label Biography information for Mr Philip Hollobone