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1698359

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Lincolnshire
	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 Church is taking to support churches in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	20147
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners and National Church Institutions provide support for the mission and ministry of all dioceses in the Church of England.</p><p>The Church Commissioners have made £340 million available to support a Diocesan Investment Programme overseen by the Strategic Mission and Ministry Board, which includes additional funding and resources for lowest-income communities. The Diocese of Lincoln benefits from the Lowest Income Communities Fund, which is directly supporting the stipendiary ministry of clergy in many areas such as Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Lincoln and Boston.</p><p>The Diocese of Lincoln has recently launched ‘Time to Change Together’, which is its shared vision for the future of the diocese and its presence in Greater Lincolnshire. You can find out more about the project here: <a href="https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/parish-support/a-time-to-change-together/" target="_blank">https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/parish-support/a-time-to-change-together/</a> The Diocese bid for and received a grant from the Strategic Development Fund for a project called 'Resourcing the Urban Church' designed to revitalise churches of all traditions across the urban centres in the diocese.</p><p>Lincolnshire has one of the highest ratios of churches per head of the population in England, and the Diocese is committed to the stewardship of its historic churches and to supporting new worshipping communities. A new giving scheme has been developed to encourage congregations to support the flourishing of mission and ministry in the Diocese, and plans are being developed for an ‘Open Churches Trust’ to support smaller churches with maintenance and insurance advice.</p><p>The Diocese is developing new strategies to support clergy well-being. Preventing long-term vacancies and illness is a priority alongside finding sustainable solutions for parishes.</p><p>For further information about the work underway in Lincolnshire, please contact the area bishop The Rt Revd Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop of Grantham, whose details are here: <a href="https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/contact/directory/" target="_blank">https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/contact/directory/</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/04/2024 12:19:23 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1697792

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Christianity: Ceremonies
	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 many confirmations there were in each year since 1994.
	tabling member constituency	Harborough
	tabling member printed	Neil O'Brien
	uin	19960
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2024 answer text <p>The table below shows the number of confirmations conducted in the Church of England each year since 1994. <br> <br> As the Established Church, every member of the public, whatever their belief, living within a parish in England has the right to access baptism, marriage and burial services of the Church of England as long as performing that service is lawful under Canon Law. <br> <br> The detailed data on the number of baptism and confirmation services is published in the annual data ‘Statistics for Mission’.</p><p>Post 2009 figures can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/statisticsformission2022_tables.xlsx" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/statisticsformission2022_tables.xlsx</a></p><p>Pre-2009 figures can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/data-services/resources-publications-and-data#na" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/about/data-services/resources-publications-and-data#na</a></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number of confirmations</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1994</p></td><td><p>48,024</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1995</p></td><td><p>43,667</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1996</p></td><td><p>42,768</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1997</p></td><td><p>40,881</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1998</p></td><td><p>39,926</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1999</p></td><td><p>37,469</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2000</p></td><td><p>36,387</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2001</p></td><td><p>33,367</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2002</p></td><td><p>33,425</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2003</p></td><td><p>31,797</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004</p></td><td><p>30,425</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005</p></td><td><p>29,833</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>29,380</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>27,926</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>26,972</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>25,028</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>22,349</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>22,242</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>22,540</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>19,883</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014</p></td><td><p>18,028</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>16,723</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>15,917</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>15,253</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>14,475</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>13,355</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>2,165</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>6,388</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022</p></td><td><p>10,855</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/04/2024 13:14:53 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4679 label Biography information for Neil O'Brien

1697793

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Church Services: Attendance
	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 average weekly attendance was in each year since 1994.
	tabling member constituency	Harborough
	tabling member printed	Neil O'Brien
	uin	19961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2024 answer text <p>The National Church Institutions first started collecting attendance data centrally in the autumn of 2000; as a result, it is not possible to publish data for the period 1994-1999. A methodological change also took place between 2000 and 2003 which means statistics for those years are not directly comparable with the data now collected. The data displayed below shows the longest period of comparable figures available, from 2003-2022.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>Adult average weekly attendance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Child average weekly attendance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>All age average weekly attendance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Adult average Sunday attendance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Child average Sunday attendance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>All age average Sunday attendance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Adult average school service attendance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Child average school service attendance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>All age average school service attendance</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2003</strong></p></td><td><p>905,000</p></td><td><p>218,000</p></td><td><p>1,126,000</p></td><td><p>802,000</p></td><td><p>154,000</p></td><td><p>959,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2004</strong></p></td><td><p>896,000</p></td><td><p>220,000</p></td><td><p>1,119,000</p></td><td><p>789,000</p></td><td><p>151,000</p></td><td><p>942,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2005</strong></p></td><td><p>898,000</p></td><td><p>218,000</p></td><td><p>1,119,000</p></td><td><p>791,000</p></td><td><p>147,000</p></td><td><p>941,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2006</strong></p></td><td><p>894,000</p></td><td><p>217,000</p></td><td><p>1,115,000</p></td><td><p>786,000</p></td><td><p>145,000</p></td><td><p>935,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2007</strong></p></td><td><p>888,000</p></td><td><p>205,000</p></td><td><p>1,097,000</p></td><td><p>779,000</p></td><td><p>137,000</p></td><td><p>919,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2008</strong></p></td><td><p>877,000</p></td><td><p>215,000</p></td><td><p>1,094,000</p></td><td><p>768,000</p></td><td><p>139,000</p></td><td><p>910,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2009</strong></p></td><td><p>867,000</p></td><td><p>211,000</p></td><td><p>1,082,000</p></td><td><p>758,000</p></td><td><p>134,000</p></td><td><p>895,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2010</strong></p></td><td><p>851,000</p></td><td><p>208,000</p></td><td><p>1,062,000</p></td><td><p>741,000</p></td><td><p>130,000</p></td><td><p>874,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p>840,000</p></td><td><p>207,000</p></td><td><p>1,050,000</p></td><td><p>728,000</p></td><td><p>127,000</p></td><td><p>858,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p>843,000</p></td><td><p>202,000</p></td><td><p>1,049,000</p></td><td><p>733,000</p></td><td><p>128,000</p></td><td><p>864,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p>836,000</p></td><td><p>157,000</p></td><td><p>994,000</p></td><td><p>721,000</p></td><td><p>124,000</p></td><td><p>845,000</p></td><td><p>23,000</p></td><td><p>103,000</p></td><td><p>126,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p>831,000</p></td><td><p>144,000</p></td><td><p>975,000</p></td><td><p>711,000</p></td><td><p>119,000</p></td><td><p>830,000</p></td><td><p>35,000</p></td><td><p>113,000</p></td><td><p>148,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p>819,000</p></td><td><p>140,000</p></td><td><p>959,000</p></td><td><p>698,000</p></td><td><p>115,000</p></td><td><p>813,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>131,000</p></td><td><p>171,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p>791,000</p></td><td><p>132,000</p></td><td><p>922,000</p></td><td><p>671,000</p></td><td><p>108,000</p></td><td><p>780,000</p></td><td><p>42,000</p></td><td><p>139,000</p></td><td><p>182,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p>767,000</p></td><td><p>127,000</p></td><td><p>895,000</p></td><td><p>653,000</p></td><td><p>104,000</p></td><td><p>757,000</p></td><td><p>46,000</p></td><td><p>152,000</p></td><td><p>198,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p>752,000</p></td><td><p>120,000</p></td><td><p>872,000</p></td><td><p>635,000</p></td><td><p>96,000</p></td><td><p>730,000</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>137,000</p></td><td><p>177,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p>734,000</p></td><td><p>120,000</p></td><td><p>854,000</p></td><td><p>613,000</p></td><td><p>94,000</p></td><td><p>707,000</p></td><td><p>41,000</p></td><td><p>141,000</p></td><td><p>182,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p>317,000</p></td><td><p>28,000</p></td><td><p>345,000</p></td><td><p>273,000</p></td><td><p>24,000</p></td><td><p>298,000</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td><td><p>n/a</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p>531,000</p></td><td><p>75,000</p></td><td><p>605,000</p></td><td><p>447,000</p></td><td><p>62,000</p></td><td><p>509,000</p></td><td><p>18,000</p></td><td><p>71,000</p></td><td><p>89,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2022</strong></p></td><td><p>567,000</p></td><td><p>87,000</p></td><td><p>654,000</p></td><td><p>477,000</p></td><td><p>70,000</p></td><td><p>547,000</p></td><td><p>36,000</p></td><td><p>128,000</p></td><td><p>164,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Attendance figures are collected from churches for the first 4 Sundays of October and in the following Monday-Saturday midweek periods - this exercise is referred to as the &quot;October count”. Figures include attendance at baptisms, as these usually take place in service, but not attendance at weddings and funerals. Attendance at services for schools is NOT included in the average weekly and average Sunday attendance figures but is reported separately.</p><p>In 2013, the question was changed to specifically ask about attendance at school services. Prior to 2013, it was apparent that some churches included such attendance in their reported figures while others did not. The change in question during this year resulted in a large change in the average weekly attendance from 2012 to 2013 and a more consistent practice across the church as a whole.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/04/2024 13:23:00 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4679 label Biography information for Neil O'Brien

1697794

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Redundant Churches
	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 many churches were deconsecrated in each year since 1994.
	tabling member constituency	Harborough
	tabling member printed	Neil O'Brien
	uin	19962
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Church of England law around church buildings is complex, but there are two main types; a consecrated church building where the bishop has performed a rite of consecration, setting the church building (and font and altar) aside for public worship, and a place of worship that has been licensed for that purpose by the bishop (not consecrated).</p><p>The Church of England does not have a rite of &quot;deconsecration&quot; as such – it is more usual to refer to the 'closure' of a church that is consecrated. The process of closure is a legal one, set out in the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 and its predecessor legislation. The bishop's consecration of a church building for worship cannot be removed. However, the legal effects of consecration can be withdrawn in order to allow the disposal of the building and a new use to be found for the building.</p><p>Since 1994 there have been around 650 closure schemes for consecrated church buildings brought forward under the Mission and Pastoral Measure. In some of those cases, the closed church building will have been sold to other Christian denominations for worship use, and in some cases some occasional worship continues, even if the closed church building is being used for community activities, for example.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/04/2024 12:27:05 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4679 label Biography information for Neil O'Brien

1697991

	registered interest
	date	21/03/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Cumbria
	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 Church is taking to support churches in (a) Penrith and The Border constituency and (b) Cumbria.
	tabling member constituency	Penrith and The Border
	tabling member printed	Dr Neil Hudson
	uin	19985
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners and National Church Institutions provide support for the mission and ministry of all dioceses in the Church of England.</p><p>The Church Commissioners have made £340 million available to support a Diocesan Investment Programme overseen by the Strategic Mission and Ministry Board, which includes additional funding and resources for lowest-income communities.</p><p>In Carlisle Diocese, the Lowest Income Communities Fund has provided £560,000 a year to support a range of projects in Barrow, South and West Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven, and Maryport. Additional grants from the Strategic Development Fund totalling £ 1.6 million over five years have been awarded. The project funds five new pioneer enabler roles, which in addition to training and support, will help the Diocese reach those groups who are not typically represented in congregations in Carlisle.</p><p>Support is available to all churches in Penrith and The Border and across the Diocese with maintenance and management of church buildings via the Buildings for Mission fund, which will provide small grants for repairs and restoration and a dedicated support officer to advise parishes.</p><p>Other grants are available from the Diocese supported by the National Church Institutions to enable parishes to move towards Net Zero and increase capacity building at a parish level with youth work, internships, and vocations, and to support better stewardship of church buildings, to upgrade facilities and technology, and enable easier donation and giving. <br> <br> To find out more about the work underway across Cumbria, Carlisle and Penrith, please contact the Acting Bishop, The Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, Bishop of Penrith, whose details are here: <a href="https://www.carlislediocese.org.uk/bishops-and-senior-clergy/" target="_blank">https://www.carlislediocese.org.uk/bishops-and-senior-clergy/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/04/2024 12:31:39 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4853 label Biography information for Dr Neil Hudson

1697566

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Church Schools: Hendon
	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 has made an assessment of the contribution of church schools in Hendon constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	19599
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2024 answer text <p>Though the National Church Institutions are not responsible for the operation of individual schools, the Diocese of London has volunteered the following information, which I hope is useful.</p><p>There are two Church of England schools in the Hendon Constituency.</p><p>St Mary’s and St John’s educates more than 1,600 pupils. One quarter are on free school meals, which is higher than the Local Authority average. Pupils are making above-average progress at an 8-level attainment of 0.39 compared with the national average of -0.03.</p><p>St Paul’s School Mill Hill educates 210 pupils. One fifth of pupils are in receipt of Free School Meals, in line with the Local Authority average. Pupils attainment is above-average; 84% attained the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths last summer compared to the national average of 60%.</p><p>I commend the teachers and leadership teams in both schools for these achievements.</p><p>The Church of England educates over one million children in its 4,700 schools across England. Church Schools are committed to the flourishing of children and deliver a rounded education that remains in high demand with parents. They serve all those in the community, whatever their faith or belief.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/04/2024 13:10:53 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1697571

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2024
	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: Tree Planting
	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 the Church plans to take steps to plant trees on diocese lands.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	19600
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>Diocesan land is managed by individual dioceses at a local level and, as such, the Church Commissioners are unable to plant trees on diocesan property. However, the Church Commissioners work with diocesan teams and other church bodies to encourage the responsible use of land, reducing carbon emissions and increasing biodiversity where appropriate, including incorporating environmental improvement into food production.</p><p>The Church Commissioners’ rural estates team has assisted with the creation of a guidance note for diocesan officers on ‘managing land for climate and nature’, attended net zero meetings, and engaged with local diocesan environmental officers. Staff from the Rural Estates team have also met with the Rural Bishops Group to illustrate their work managing the rural estates and share experiences that apply to dioceses. They will continue to share details of tree-planting undertaken by the Commissioners with our diocesan partners and are keen to work together on further improving and implementing good practice.</p><p>In 2023, the Church Commissioners planted over 1.5million trees on their Forestry and Farmland holdings, 700,000 of which were in the UK.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/04/2024 12:34:50 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1697590

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2024
	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: Carbon Emissions
	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 Church is taking to help achieve net zero.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	19601
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2024 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners are committed to reducing the carbon intensity of their portfolio by 2025 and, as a member of the Asset Owners Alliance, reaching ‘Net Zero’ in the investment portfolio by 2050.</p><p>The General Synod has set a target for the Church of England to become Net Zero by 2030. The National Church Institutions are supporting every diocese with a grant to grow capacity and employ staff to manage the work of achieving this net zero ambition. The Church Commissioners have committed funding of £30m for 2023-25 and £190m total for a 9-year programme from 2023-31. <br> <br>Stage one will explore the best ways to decarbonise the diverse range of buildings and navigate planning and governance structures. The project will assess cathedrals and clergy housing, with demonstration churches that can act as showpieces of what is possible. There will be a special grant available from dioceses to enable churches to fund improvements to their energy efficiency.</p><p>A second workstream supports schools in accessing public sector decarbonisation funds, and another stream of grants will match local fundraising in churches for net-zero carbon projects through the Buildings for Mission scheme</p><p>This will provide a clear picture of the kinds of projects that are effective in reducing emissions, ready for a scaled-up investment in the second 3-year period</p><p>Recent success stories include York Minster and the Chapel at Kings College, Cambridge, which have joined many other major churches and cathedrals across the country in installing new solar panels and renewable technologies, reducing their running costs and making them more sustainable buildings.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/04/2024 13:18:14 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1697591

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2024
	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: Land Use
	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 a recent assessment has been made of the environmental improvements being advanced through the church's holding of agricultural land.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	19602
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2024 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners undertake rolling assessments of environmental improvements being made to the farmland portfolio by tenants, which is used to update the baseline study undertaken five years ago. Data has so far been provided on over 25,000 acres of Commissioners’ land holdings and contains details of environmental changes, such as transitioning to regenerative agricultural practices. The Commissioners are pleased to announce a partnership with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), which will further develop this work.</p><p>The Church Commissioners’ rural estates team continues to engage with our new and existing agricultural tenants through regular individual farm visits, the sharing of ground-sourced data, including carbon audits, and the gathering of information from third parties. On recent assessment revealed that on a single Commissioners’ farm in Kent, over 45 species of bird were recorded during a single visit in December 2023.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/04/2024 13:24:49 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1697593

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2024
	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: Slavery
	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 the Church plans to publicly acknowledge historic links with the chattel slave trade.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	19604
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Archbishop of Canterbury has been unequivocal on the theology of this issue, noting on his visit to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana in February 2023:</p><p>“It was a reminder that the abomination of African chattel enslavement was blasphemy: those who imprisoned men and women in those dungeons saw them as less than human. It is to the Church of England’s eternal shame that it did not always follow Christ’s teaching to give life. It is a stain on the wider church that some Christians did not see their brothers and sisters as created in the image of God, but as objects to be exploited.”</p><p>The Church Commissioners has been investigating its historic links to the chattel slave trade since 2019 and published a full, transparent report of the findings in January 2023. More information about the whole project is available here:<br> <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/national-church-institutions/church-commissioners-england/who-we-1" target="_blank">Church Commissioners Links to Historic Transatlantic Slavery | The Church of England</a></p><p>The Church Commissioners seek, through the research it has done and its response, to acknowledge the truth of the past, apologise for the wrongs that this research has highlighted, and to address these wrongs through repentance, remembrance, reconciliation, and renewal. The Church Commissioners believe that by addressing its past transparently, particularly this part of our past, the Church and its teachings will be more relevant to more people. The response is an important missional activity that will support the work and ministry of the Church of England in England.</p><p>The Church Commissioners are committed to setting up an Impact Investment Fund as part of its response to invest in a better and fairer future for all, particularly for communities affected by historic enslavement. It is hoped this fund will grow over time, reinvesting returns to enable it to have a positive and lasting legacy that will exist in perpetuity and with the potential for other institutions to participate, further enabling growth in the size and impact of the fund. This Fund will be seeded with a £100 million commitment from the Church Commissioners.</p><p>Despite recent press speculation, the Church Commissioners has no plans to increase its contribution to the Fund over the planned funding period. It is hoped that growth in the impact fund will also enable grant funding for projects focused on improving opportunities for communities impacted by historic African chattel enslavement.</p><p>The Church Commissioners have also committed to undertake further research, including into the Church Commissioners' history, supporting dioceses and parishes to research and address their historic links with African chattel enslavement, and sharing best practices with other organisations researching their enslavement legacies.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/04/2024 12:37:47 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1693446

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Clergy: Universal Credit
	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 the Commissioners have had discussions with the Department of Work and Pensions on the potential impact of the migration of claimants of Child Tax Credit to Universal Credit on the financial position of members of the clergy.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	16862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry Development Team of the Archbishops’ Council estimates that around 1,800 clergy families are currently in receipt of child tax credits. As has been reported, some of these may stand to lose up to £10,000 a year as a result of the planned migration to Universal Credit.</p><p>Representations have been made to the Department of Work and Pensions about the impact on clergy who have savings or property for retirement, of the ineligibility for Universal Credit for those with assets or savings over the £16,000 threshold. A key concern is that this will not only affect living standards for clergy families reliant on stipendiary income but will have an adverse effect on all people in tied accommodation seeking to make adequate provisions for their retirement.</p><p>The Ministry Development Team also estimates that around 400 of the 1,800 clergy families receiving child tax credits have more than two children and are therefore also likely to be affected by the two-child cap on Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/03/2024 11:28:36 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1691338

	registered interest
	date	23/02/2024
	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: Finance
	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 the Church plans to commission an independent review of funds allocated by the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	15413
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2024 answer text <p>In March 2022, an Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities Funding and Strategic Development Funding was published. This review was chaired by Sir Robert Chote, who presented the review to the General Synod in July 2022. At that group of sessions, the General Synod passed a motion requesting the commissioning of a follow-up independent review to be completed before the July 2024 group of sessions. This review will be commissioned as requested in the motion.</p><p>The original Chote review, with the response, can be found here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2022-06%2Fgs-2261-review-of-sdf-and-linc-funding.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C36708d7edb7542596f2408dc37cd5a37%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638446603167712010%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=oSMvzlCiwHBOGdcjXGPO0EAqB7A3KCNdYR6WuOfPhdE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-06/gs-2261-review-of-sdf-and-linc-funding.pdf</a></p><p>The motion passed by General Synod in July 2022 can be found here (Item 70 on page 14): <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2022-09%2Fbusiness-done-consolidated.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C36708d7edb7542596f2408dc37cd5a37%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638446603167717965%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=pVb5naUPVYv2x%2BOPGfsZBU6l3VpJ0VTgg%2BfEL%2BA7EVo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/business-done-consolidated.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 28/02/2024 21:48:55 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1689894

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Religious Buildings: Entertainments
	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 the Church has issued guidance on the use of places of worship for silent discos.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	14537
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>No guidance has been issued by the National Church Institutions on the use of places of worship for silent discos.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/02/2024 21:40:16 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1688967

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	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 processes there are for complaints against senior staff of the National Church Institutions.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13865
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The National Church Institutions have an external NCIs Complaints Policy, which can be found on the Church of England website at: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/national-church-institutions" target="_blank">National Church Institutions | The Church of England</a>. A complaint is defined as any expression of dissatisfaction with the service offered by the NCIs to an individual or organisation, which could include an issue with the standard of service, a specific action taken (or not taken) or the behaviour of individuals working within or on behalf of the NCIs, in their interactions with the complainant. This could include the behaviour of NCI senior staff.</p><p>Complaints may come from any individual, volunteer or organisation directly involved with a specific matter being handled by the NCIs, including the general public, members of the clergy and staff in a church body.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/02/2024 21:41:44 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1688630

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Finance
	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 proportion of funds allocated to projects by the Strategic Investment Board have been assigned to supporting (a) new and (b) established churches which (i) belong to and (ii) are associated with the Church Revitalisation Trust since 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13678
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>Strategic Development Funding (which ran from 2014-22) was awarded to dioceses. It is for dioceses to decide which churches, activities and networks they support, in line with their strategies. We do not routinely capture data on the proportion of funding directed to particular networks. Most projects work with a number of different parishes and Fresh Expressions of Church (e.g. across a town).</p><p>Out of a total of £285m of national Church funding awarded between 2020 and 2023 by the Strategic Investment Board or by its successor, the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board, we estimate that £13m (4%) of funding has been awarded to dioceses for projects where all churches worked with the Church Revitalisation Trust (now known as The Revitalise Trust) and £34m (12%) has been allocated to programmes where at least one church out of many include a Church Revitalisation Trust element.</p><p>This funding comprises support both for new and established churches.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/02/2024 21:45:32 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1688631

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Finance
	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 oversight is available to (a) the Strategic Investment Board and (b) others to monitor the use of Strategic Development Funding once distributed at diocesan level.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13681
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>a) The Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board reviews the progress of programmes supported by Strategic Development Funding at every meeting.</p><p>b) The progress of all programmes supported by Strategic Development Funding is regularly monitored by national Church staff, including through attendance at Programme Boards and annual reviews. Monies for projects supported by Strategic Development Funding are released in instalments across the funding period, with payments authorised by national Church staff after rigorous checks and against evidence of spend.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/02/2024 21:46:43 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1688632

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Finance
	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 (a) investigative powers and (b) sanctions are available to the Strategic Investment Board to tackle any reported misuse of Strategic Development Funding.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13682
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>All awards of Strategic Development Funding are granted under a formal funding agreement made between the Archbishops’ Council and the recipient of the funding. The Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board is able, on behalf of the Archbishops’ Council, to commission any necessary investigations into reported misuse, or misuse identified through various accountability processes, of Strategic Development Funding. Under the funding agreement, the Archbishops’ Council has the right to withhold a grant or require repayment if any part of the grant is misused. No report of misuse of funds has ever been received.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/02/2024 21:48:10 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1688118

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Independent Safeguarding Board
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to paragraphs 577 to 579 of the Review of the Independent Safeguarding Board, dated 30 November 2023, whether the commissioners have had recent discussions with the Archbishops' Council on the potential for lessons to be learned from the handling of the announcement.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13492
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners have not held such discussions with the Archbishops’ Council.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/02/2024 21:42:53 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1688244

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Christianity: Asylum
	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 the Church provides guidance on helping to determine that asylum seekers are genuine converts to Christianity.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	13587
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The document “Supporting Asylum Seekers – Guidance for Church of England Clergy”, which has been publicly available on the Church of England website for around seven years, states that clergy should assess the faith of those claiming conversion to Christianity and should rely on evidence to do so. The guidance also refers to the need for discernment – to be “wise as serpents” – in recognising mixed motives and the potential for gaming the system.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/02/2024 21:44:09 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1687728

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Security
	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 funds the Commissioners allocate to churches for (a) cameras, (b) alarms and (c) other security equipment.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	13262
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>All churches are eligible to apply for the Home Office hate crime scheme if they need support with new or upgrading equipment or facilities. <br> The <a href="https://benefacttrust.co.uk/" target="_blank">Benefact Trust</a> has funded alarms for churches. More details are available on the Church of England website about how to support parishes with resources and advice: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/security-and-crime-prevention" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/security-and-crime-prevention</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 08/02/2024 17:58:37 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1687806

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Independent Safeguarding Board
	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 many and what proportion of the case reviews that the Independent Safeguarding Board agreed to undertake have been commissioned by the interim commissioner of independent reviews.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>The Archbishops' Council commissioned the Interim Commissioner of Independent Reviews to undertake discussions with survivors who had been promised reviews by the former Independent Safeguarding Board, about the terms of reference for reviewing their cases. At the request of survivors, the number in discussion with the Interim Commissioner will be kept confidential, given that the number of survivors promised a review by the ISB is relatively small and there is a possibility of identifying individuals.</p><p>At present no reviews have been commissioned, though some are in the final stages of consideration. The timetable will depend on the terms of reference and agreements with individual survivors, and the Interim Commissioner is taking care to ensure that each review is adequate to the particular circumstances of the case.</p><p>The recent review into the events leading to the termination of contracts of the members of the Independent Safeguarding Board – <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-12/isb-review-report-30-november-2023.pdf" target="_blank">the Wilkinson Report</a> – identified lessons learned on how recommendations from all case reviews are taken forward, which will be discussed at the forthcoming February meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 13209 13210 question first answered 08/02/2024 17:53:23 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1687807

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Independent Safeguarding Board
	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 the commissioners have had recent discussions with (a) the Archbishops' Council and (b) other stakeholders on the commissioning of case reviews that the Independent Safeguarding Board agreed to undertake; what the timescale is for case reviews commissioned by the interim commissioner of independent reviews; and what steps are being taken to ensure the adequacy of such reviews.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13209
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>The Archbishops' Council commissioned the Interim Commissioner of Independent Reviews to undertake discussions with survivors who had been promised reviews by the former Independent Safeguarding Board, about the terms of reference for reviewing their cases. At the request of survivors, the number in discussion with the Interim Commissioner will be kept confidential, given that the number of survivors promised a review by the ISB is relatively small and there is a possibility of identifying individuals.</p><p>At present no reviews have been commissioned, though some are in the final stages of consideration. The timetable will depend on the terms of reference and agreements with individual survivors, and the Interim Commissioner is taking care to ensure that each review is adequate to the particular circumstances of the case.</p><p>The recent review into the events leading to the termination of contracts of the members of the Independent Safeguarding Board – <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-12/isb-review-report-30-november-2023.pdf" target="_blank">the Wilkinson Report</a> – identified lessons learned on how recommendations from all case reviews are taken forward, which will be discussed at the forthcoming February meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 13208 13210 question first answered 08/02/2024 17:53:24 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1687808

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Archbishops' Council
	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 the commissioners have had discussions with the Archbishops' Council on the potential impact of recommendations from case reviews commissioned by the interim commissioner of independent reviews on earlier cases.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13210
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>The Archbishops' Council commissioned the Interim Commissioner of Independent Reviews to undertake discussions with survivors who had been promised reviews by the former Independent Safeguarding Board, about the terms of reference for reviewing their cases. At the request of survivors, the number in discussion with the Interim Commissioner will be kept confidential, given that the number of survivors promised a review by the ISB is relatively small and there is a possibility of identifying individuals.</p><p>At present no reviews have been commissioned, though some are in the final stages of consideration. The timetable will depend on the terms of reference and agreements with individual survivors, and the Interim Commissioner is taking care to ensure that each review is adequate to the particular circumstances of the case.</p><p>The recent review into the events leading to the termination of contracts of the members of the Independent Safeguarding Board – <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-12/isb-review-report-30-november-2023.pdf" target="_blank">the Wilkinson Report</a> – identified lessons learned on how recommendations from all case reviews are taken forward, which will be discussed at the forthcoming February meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 13208 13209 question first answered 08/02/2024 17:53:24 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1687925

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2024
	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: Charity Commission
	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 data the commissioners hold on the number of serious incident reports that have been reported to the Charity Commission by the Church of England in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13228
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>Each of the National Church Institutions, dioceses, and parochial church councils is a legally separate and independent charitable body, and each body is responsible for making its own serious incident reports to the Charity Commission. There is no central list.</p><p>The Church Commissioners do not hold information about the number of serious incident reports made to the Charity Commission other than their own. The Church Commissioners made two serious incident reports in the last 12 months; neither report related to safeguarding.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 08/02/2024 17:56:13 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1687926

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2024
	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: Charity Commission
	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 the Church has published guidance on the procedure for investigating serious incidents it has reported to the Charity Commission.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	13229
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>The National Church Institutions follow the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on registering a serious incident report.</p><p>Reporting guidance for any charity, trustee, employee, and volunteer who has concerns about the operation of any charity can be found on the Gov.uk website here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-charity" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-charity</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 08/02/2024 17:57:20 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1681605

	registered interest
	date	11/01/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Georgeham
	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 funding is available for Georgeham Parish Council to apply for to repair the parish church grounds and supporting boundary walls.
	tabling member constituency	North Devon
	tabling member printed	Selaine Saxby
	uin	9309
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>If the churchyard is open, then the Parochial Church Council is responsible for maintenance and upkeep. If it has been closed for burials by Order in Council, the statutory responsibility falls to the Local Authority unless a local arrangement has been reached. I will ask the diocese to make contact with the Parochial Church Council and Local Authority to see if they can offer advice.</p><p>Local Authorities are able to make small grants available to Parochial Church Councils to support the maintenance and upkeep of a churchyard, whether open or closed. The Church Commissioners are grateful to the Government for its clarification of the law in the recent Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, which now enables Local Authorities like all other faith communities to give grants to parish churches who need support with the maintenance of their buildings and fabric.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 30/01/2024 18:50:11 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4863 label Biography information for Selaine Saxby

1681257

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Paula Vennells
	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 role Paula Vennells had in advising the Commissioners after 2019; and which committees she attended.
	tabling member constituency	West Dorset
	tabling member printed	Chris Loder
	uin	9090
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2024 answer text <p>In the spring of 2019 the House of Bishops discussed why some of the recommendations of the Church Buildings Review, which was approved by the General Synod in November 2015, had not been implemented. Paula Vennells was subsequently asked by the Archbishops to undertake a lessons learnt review. During the course of the review its remit was expanded to look at the wider working together of the National Church Institutions (NCIs), including issues around organisational governance, leadership and culture. The report, ‘Church Buildings Review- Lessons Learnt’, was completed in October 2019 and Paula Vennells attended a meeting of the House of Bishops in December 2019 at which it was presented.</p><p>In February 2020 Paula Vennells was invited to attend the Church Commissioners Board of Governors for a discussion of the Lessons Learnt report, but she was unable to attend and the report was considered in her absence. The Lessons Learnt report was considered by the Archbishops’ Council in March 2020, again in the absence of Paula Vennells, who was invited but unable to attend.</p><p>In March 2020 the Archbishops established a Coordinating Group, to continue the work of the Triennium Funding Working Group, and to coordinate certain strands of national work for the Church during the Covid 19 pandemic. Paula Vennells was invited to join the Coordinating Group and to lead on the part focusing on Governance. She attended three meetings of the Group, in April, May and June 2020 and sent apologies to two further meetings in June and July, before withdrawing from the work. The Coordinating Group became what is now the Emerging Church Steering Group. A Governance Review group under the Chairmanship of the Bishop of Leeds proceeded from August 2020, without the involvement of Paula Vennells.</p><p>The Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) is convened and funded by the three National Investment Bodies, to whom it provides ethical investment advice. Paula Vennells was appointed to the EIAG by its Nominations Committee and was a member between March 2019 and April 2021. She attended two meetings, in March and October 2019, and sent apologies for meetings thereafter until she took leave of absence from the Group from June 2020, lasting until her resignation in April 2021. More information about the EIAG can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/ethical-investment-advisory-group" target="_blank">Ethical Investment Advisory Group | The Church of England</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 15/01/2024 17:07:36 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4751 label Biography information for Chris Loder

1679012

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Nigeria
	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 the Church has had discussions with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on the attack on the St Francis Xavier Church in Owo, Nigeria in 2022; and whether the Church is providing aid for the victims of that attack.
	tabling member constituency	Gainsborough
	tabling member printed	Sir Edward Leigh
	uin	7472
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The Archbishop of Canterbury issued a statement at the time of the attack on the Roman Catholic Church of St Francis Xavier in 2022, saying: “The massacre of worshippers – men, women and children – during a Mass in South-west Nigeria was an act of pure evil and a profound offence to God. My prayers are with all affected by this barbaric attack. I continue to pray for the nation of Nigeria.” The Archbishop meets often with politicians and clergy from Nigeria and has raised the issues of inter community and inter-religious violence.</p><p>Bishops of the Church of England are in regular discussion with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on matters affecting freedom of religion or belief, including in Nigeria. On 6<sup>th</sup> June 2022 the Lord Bishop of Leeds asked a question of the Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the House of Lords, during exchanges on an answer to an urgent question on the attacks. He stressed that while condemnation by religious leaders was necessary and important, it often had limited impact on the self-proclaimed and ideologically-driven religious groupings and organisations behind such attacks.</p><p><a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2022-06-06/debates/B6A5FF6E-A393-4201-9A75-BEBB56A981CD/details#contribution-22B83542-1AF7-4AB0-B1B6-B6D78F081CF2" target="_blank">https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2022-06-06/debates/B6A5FF6E-A393-4201-9A75-BEBB56A981CD/details#contribution-22B83542-1AF7-4AB0-B1B6-B6D78F081CF2</a></p><p>The Church has not provided any direct financial aid to the victims of this attack, but through its diocesan companion links with Nigeria and the work of its voluntary mission agencies it is continuing to support the Church in Nigeria more broadly as it responds to violations of freedom of religion or belief.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/02/2024 15:33:16 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous previous answer version 11558 answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	345 label Biography information for Sir Edward Leigh

1675088

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2023
	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: 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, if the Church will have discussions with the Dioceses of (a) Hereford and (b) Lichfield on support with energy costs.
	tabling member constituency	The Wrekin
	tabling member printed	Mark Pritchard
	uin	4961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2023 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners are in regular contact with the Dioceses of Hereford and Lichfield. During the winter of 2022-23, due to dramatic increases in energy costs, £3million of Church Commissioners’ funding was made available through the Archbishops’ Council to support additional ministry hardship funding for clergy and lay workers, and a further £15million was similarly made available in energy cost support funding for dioceses to allocate primarily to Parochial Church Councils. This money was in addition to the dioceses' own ministry hardship funding and discretionary funding.</p><p>There is no plan to offer a similar scheme this year over and above the money already available through diocesean discretionary and hardship funds.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 15/12/2023 15:02:00 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1576 label Biography information for Mark Pritchard

1670313

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2023
	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: Religious Freedom
	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 the Church of England is taking steps to advocate for freedom of religion and belief in other countries.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	2135
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2023 answer text <p>Over the past two years the Church of England has been closely involved with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in supporting the work of His Majesty's Ambassadors and diplomats, as part of a structured programme of engagement between the Church’s global networks and the civil service, to increase awareness of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB).</p><p>The Church was represented at the Government conference in 2022 that highlighted the need for increased global action on FoRB and continues to support the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief. More information about the work of the International Panel can be found here: <a href="https://www.ippforb.com/about/" target="_blank">https://www.ippforb.com/about/</a></p><p>Bishops of the global Anglican Communion came together for the Lambeth Conference in 2022 and spent a day discussing issues of interfaith engagement, human dignity and freedom of religion and belief. At the Conference a range of calls were made, outlining priorities for the Church worldwide. The documents relating to Freedom of Religion and religious persecution can be found under the Inter-Faith, Christian Unity and Human Dignity sections here: <a href="https://www.lambethconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Lambeth-Calls-English-2023.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.lambethconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Lambeth-Calls-English-2023.pdf(opens in a new tab)</a></p><p>The United Nations Security Council has recently adopted a resolution to produce an annual report on freedom of religion and belief. It was sponsored by the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, and the resolution was based on the former Bishop of Truro's review, commissioned by the UK Government. The Security Council adopted the proposal, which will see the UN Secretary General produce an oral report on FoRB-related threats to international peace and security.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 15/12/2023 14:54:00 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1670314

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Church Schools
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make an assessment of the contribution of church schools in (a) Hendon constituency and (b) the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Hendon
	tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
	uin	2136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2023 answer text <p>The Church of England educates over one million children in its 4,700 schools. Church of England schools are committed to the flourishing of children and deliver a rounded education that remains in high demand with parents. In Hendon an excellent example is St Mary's and St John's, a large, successful and thriving all-through school which yielded outstanding GCSE results this summer; the highest they have been.</p><p>The Church of England is one of the leading providers for leadership development, through National Professional Qualifications. These qualifications, in partnership with His Majesty's Government, have provided vital investment in leadership and teacher development at a time when attracting people into teaching faces numerous challenges. The Government's commitment in this area is welcome because it is a key part of ensuring improved outcomes for children, especially those who are most vulnerable.</p><p>The Church's contribution and vision for how the whole system can flourish is set out in <a href="https://www.cefel.org.uk/flourishingsystem/" target="_blank">Our Hope for a Flourishing Schools System - Foundation For Educational Leadership</a>. It explains that Church schools &quot;ensure a careful balance of wisdom, knowledge and skills in their curriculum planning, enabling their students not only to excel in examinations but releasing wise young leaders and courageous advocates, inspired and equipped to shape their future society. They are beacons of hope for the communities they serve, frequently standing as the most significant institution in a local area.&quot;</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 15/12/2023 14:55:32 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1670420

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Mid Derbyshire
	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 support the Commissioners provide to churches in Mid Derbyshire constituency on Historic England's Heritage at Risk.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Derbyshire
	tabling member printed	Mrs Pauline Latham
	uin	2138
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2023 answer text <p>In the Mid Derbyshire constituency the Church of the Holy Trinity in Belper, and All Saints Church in Ockbrook and Borrowash, are on the 'At Risk Register'. Support and advice for parishes about the management of their building is available from their local Archdeacon, the Diocesan Advisory Committee and from the national ChurchCare website, including on available grants: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare</a></p><p>Around 2,500 Church of England buildings are listed by Historic England, with 45% of all England's Grade I listed buildings being cathedrals and churches. The average annual cost for the maintenance and repairs to parish churches is estimated at £150 million, and the maintenance of churches across the country is mostly financed by generous local donors and volunteers.</p><p>The Church remains grateful for the continuation of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Money invested in church buildings brings positive benefits to the wider community: the 2021 House of Good report by the National Churches Trust (<a href="https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/" target="_blank">https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/</a>) found that &quot;the annual social and economic value of church buildings to the UK is worth around £55 billion. This sum, calculated using the latest HM Treasury Green Book guidance, includes the contribution churches make to wellbeing and to local economies.&quot;</p><p>The Government commissioned an independent review of the sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals in 2017, known as the 'Taylor Review'. The Church is still awaiting the formal response from the Government to this report; however, the National Church Institutions have started to implement several of the recommendations. The Taylor Review can be read here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-taylor-review-sustainability-of-english-churches-and-cathedrals" target="_blank">The Taylor Review: Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p>In November 2023 the Church of England awarded £9 million to dioceses for repairs and specialist advice to parishes. This will fund 30 support officers across the country to give specialist advice on the management, conservation, repair and development of church buildings, including community use alongside worship. A further £6.2 million has been allocated across 41 dioceses for making grants of up to £12,000 for repairs to churches. The grants will focus on small-scale but urgent works and projects that could save larger sums in the long term. The fund will also be able to help cover the cost of essential improvements for the mission and ministry of a church. More information can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/church-england-announces-ps9-million-help-parishes-repairs-and" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/church-england-announces-ps9-million-help-parishes-repairs-and</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 15/12/2023 14:59:36 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4025 label Biography information for Mrs Pauline Latham

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

1669316

	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 St Peter and St Paul
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church Commissioners will review the decision to demolish the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Birch, Essex.
	tabling member constituency	Witham
	tabling member printed	Priti Patel
	uin	900092
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2023 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners have been closely involved with local and diocesan discussions on the future of St Peter &amp; St Paul, Birch. The Commissioners are responsible for the oversight and management of the relevant legislation and have ensured that the decision-making to allow demolition has followed due process</p><p><br>Whilst the Commissioners have no plans to review the decision, it is now for the Diocese of Chelmsford to take forward the demolition (or not as they may decide).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 16/11/2023 16:22:47 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1666715

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Clergy: Marriage
	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 there are recorded majorities in the (a) House and (b) College of Bishops to (i) allow clergy to enter into same-sex civil marriages and (ii) remove the stipulation that currently requires celibacy for clergy in same-sex relationships.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	203744
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>The proceedings of these meetings of the House of Bishops and College of Bishops, including details of votes, are confidential. Both the College and the House decided that further work should be done on allowing clergy to enter into same sex marriages, and on the stipulation that currently requires celibacy for clergy in same-sex relationships. It is stated in the General Synod papers (GS2328 and annexes: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/gs-2328-llf-nov-2023.pdf" target="_blank">gs-2328-llf-nov-2023.pdf (churchofengland.org)</a> ), that there is ‘further work on the Ministry elements of the Pastoral Guidance including on clergy in same-sex marriages’. It is hoped that this work will be done as quickly as is possible.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/10/2023 10:53:57 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1666717

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Marriage: Homosexuality
	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 a further letter threatening legal action was sent to the (a) House and (b) College of Bishops between the end of the meeting of the College and the House meeting in October.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	203745
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>Several items of correspondence were received over this period from a number of groups with different views, reflecting differing legal and theological opinions, as is widely in the public domain. Some offered a legal opinion on the routes of commendation or authorisation for the Prayers of Love and Faith, but I am not aware that any directly threatened the recipients with legal action.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/10/2023 11:01:21 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1666718

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Marriage: Homosexuality
	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 a draft form of Pastoral Guidance for Ministry has been (a) prepared and (b) shared with the (i) House and (ii) College of Bishops.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	203746
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>Drafts of the section on Ministry in the Pastoral Guidance were shared with the College of Bishops and House of Bishops and on both occasions they asked for further work to be done. It is hoped that this will be completed as soon as possible, and I recognise that some are disappointed that this is not being brought to the November Synod.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/10/2023 11:06:49 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1666720

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Marriage: Homosexuality
	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 the General Synod papers on Living in Love and Faith circulated on 20 October 2023 reflect the current position of the (a) House and (b)College of Bishops.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	203747
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>Drafts of the material presented in the November Synod papers were seen and commented on by the College of Bishops and House of Bishops at their respective meetings on 18th September and 9th October. The papers for the November meeting of General Synod were drafted and agreed by the Chairs of the LLF steering group based on this feedback and noting the diversity of opinions held by the bishops.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/10/2023 11:09:17 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1666721

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Marriage: Sexual Intercourse
	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 physical acts the Church refers to when teaching that sexual intimacy outside of marriage is forbidden.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	203748
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>The Living in Love and Faith process has always sought to recognise that the expression of sexual intimacy between two people cannot be reduced to a small set of defined actions.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/10/2023 11:18:08 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1666751

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Religious Freedom: EU Countries and Middle East
	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 Church's position is on freedom of religion in conflict zones in (a) the Middle East and (b) Europe.
	tabling member constituency	Bournemouth West
	tabling member printed	Sir Conor Burns
	uin	203801
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>The National Church Institutions recognise that freedom of religion or belief, like other human rights, is strongly correlated with political stability, and that repression of freedom of religion or belief, whether by societal hostility or state discrimination, can serve as major drivers of conflict and violence.</p><p>Sadly, in too many parts of the world today, whether that be in Russia or Ukraine, or in Iraq and Israel, the discrimination against or targeting of religious minorities is commonly associated with rising social tensions, intercommunal strife, violence and even mass atrocities.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 26/10/2023 10:35:49 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	3922 label Biography information for Sir Conor Burns

1666082

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2023
	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 support the Church of England has provided to (a) churches and (b) other people in (i) Israel and (ii) Gaza since 7 October 2023.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	203517
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2023 answer text <p>Following the events of 7th October, the Archbishops of York and Canterbury called on Christians, and people of all faiths and none, to pray for the victims of the terrorist attacks by Hamas and for the innocent affected by the conflict.</p><p>The Archbishop of Canterbury visited Jerusalem, from 19<sup>th</sup> – 22<sup>nd</sup> October 2023, to stand in prayerful solidarity with the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem following damage to the Al-Ahli Hospital and to show pastoral care and support to all those affected by the war. During the visit, the Archbishop met with those who had lost loved ones as a result of the 7 October attacks. Several dioceses are supporting humanitarian appeals to support the ongoing work of the Al–Ahli Hospital.</p><p>The Archbishop of Canterbury’s most recent comments on the issue of Israel and Gaza can be found here: <a href="https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements" target="_blank">https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 24/10/2023 12:16:47 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1663006

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	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: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Answer of 19 September 2023 to Question 198286 and to recommendation 5 in Appendix 1 of Sir Robert Chote's review, whether the dioceses’ annual returns on Lowest Income Communities Funding funding for 2022 will be published.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	200860
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2023 answer text <p>A summary analysis of dioceses’ returns on their use of the Lowest Income Communities Funding in 2022 will be published next year in the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board’s 2023 annual report to the Archbishops’ Council, which will be made publicly available as a General Synod (Misc) paper and on the Church of England website.</p><p> </p><p>A summary analysis of dioceses’ returns on their use of the Lowest Income Communities Funding in 2021 was published in the Strategic Investment Board’s 2022 annual report to the Archbishops’ Council, which was published as a General Synod (Misc) paper and is available on the Church of England website at: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/final-version-2022-sib-annual-report-for-synod.pdf" target="_blank">final-version-2022-sib-annual-report-for-synod.pdf (churchofengland.org)</a> (page 14 refers to the relevant information).</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/10/2023 14:23:43 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1663443

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	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: Finance
	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 Commissioners are taking to ensure the Lowest Income Communities Funding meets the objective of assisting clergy and parishes in hardest to reach communities.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	201297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2023 answer text <p>The Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities Funding and Strategic Development Funding led by Sir Robert Chote was published in March 2022 and can be read here: <em><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/irls-final-report-2.pdf%20" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/irls-final-report-2.pdf </a></em></p><p>In respect of meeting the objective of assisting clergy and parishes in hardest to reach communities the Review recommended:</p><ul><li>Recommendation 2 - &quot;Refocusing annual returns … towards more strategic reporting&quot;.</li><li>Recommendation 3 - asked staff to &quot;identify and promote best practice … perhaps convening a learning symposium&quot;.</li><li>Recommendation 5 – asked staff to &quot;communicate more clearly the extent to which LInC funding is sustaining ministry&quot;.</li></ul><p>The action taken so far by the Archbishops' Council's Vision and Strategy team in response to those recommendations has been to:</p><ul><li>Raise the profile of LInC funding within ongoing strategic conversations between its staff and diocesan teams, as part of dioceses' strategic development processes, with the aim of improving its effectiveness.</li><li>Ask dioceses to give information about the intended outcomes from their planned use of LInC funding, together with how they will be measured, as part of their annual return on LInC funding for 2022.</li><li>Plan a learning event to bring together diocesan representatives to share and develop their approaches on the use of LInC funding, aiming to improve the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of LInC funding.</li></ul><p>From the start of 2023, the new Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB), a committee of the Archbishops' Council, has replaced the previous Strategic Investment Board and Strategic Ministry Board. It distributes and monitors funds made available by the Church Commissioners and Archbishops' Council via LInC, SDF, and other similar funds.</p><p>More information about the role the SMMIB plays can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 24/10/2023 12:18:10 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1659195

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2023
	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: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to Review of Lowest Income Communities and Strategic Development Funding, published in March 2022, what steps the Church Commissioners have taken to implement new governance arrangements to ensure that Lowest Incomes Communities Funding is distributed to dioceses by the Archbishops’ Council is accounted for (a) effectively and (b) transparently.
	tabling member constituency	Exeter
	tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
	uin	198286
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>The Independent Review of Lowest Income Communities Funding and Strategic Development Funding led by Sir Robert Chote was published in March 2022 and can be read here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/irls-final-report-2.pdf" target="_blank"><strong><em>https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/irls-final-report-2.pdf</em></strong></a></p><p>In respect of improving governance arrangements of Lowest Income Communities Funding (LInC) the Review recommended:</p><ul><li>Recommendation 2 - &quot;Refocusing annual returns … towards more strategic reporting&quot;.</li><li>Recommendation 3 - asked staff to &quot;identify and promote best practice … perhaps convening a learning symposium&quot;.</li><li>Recommendation 5 – asked staff to &quot;communicate more clearly the extent to which LInC funding is sustaining ministry&quot;.</li></ul><p>The action taken so far by the Archbishops' Council's Vision and Strategy team in response to those recommendations has been to:</p><ul><li>Raise the profile of LInC funding within ongoing strategic conversations between its staff and diocesan teams, as part of dioceses' strategic development processes, with the aim of improving its effectiveness.</li><li>Ask dioceses to give information about the intended outcomes from their planned use of LInC funding, together with how they will be measured, as part of their annual return on LInC funding for 2022.</li><li>Plan a learning event to bring together diocesan representatives to share and develop their approaches on the use of LInC funding, aiming to improve the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of LInC funding.</li></ul><p>The Independent Review also made further suggestions in Recommendation 1: &quot;encouraging dioceses to use LInC funding more for clergy transitions&quot; and in Recommendation 4: &quot;maintaining current levels of LInC funding&quot;. While not related directly to governance, these may also feature in the learning event and in ongoing conversations with dioceses.</p><p>From the start of 2023, the new Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB), a committee of the Archbishops' Council, has replaced the previous Strategic Investment Board and Strategic Ministry Board. It distributes and monitors funds made available by the Church Commissioners and Archbishops' Council via LInC, SDF, and other similar funds.</p><p>The Boards of the Archbishops’ Council and the Church Commissioners are regularly updated by the SMMIB about funding decisions and projects supported by these funds. Members of the Archbishops’ Council and Church Commissioners Boards are part of the SMMIB and help monitor funding decisions and spending. The SMMIB will also provide an annual report to the General Synod.</p><p>More information about the role the SMMIB plays can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 19/09/2023 16:02:06 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1656004

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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: Derelict Land
	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 Church of England is taking to release brownfield sites within its Estate to the Church Housing Association to increase social housing.
	tabling member constituency	Solihull
	tabling member printed	Julian Knight
	uin	196061
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p>Following the ‘Coming Home’ report published by the Archbishops’ Housing Commission, the Bishop of Chelmsford (as Lead Bishop for Housing) has been working with colleagues from across the Church, including the Church Commissioners, to implement the recommendations from that report. This work includes plans to establish a Church Housing Association. As and when that Housing Association is in place we hope there will be scope for the Commissioners and other church land owners to be able to work in partnership with it to enable the construction of much-needed affordable homes.</p><p>At the same time, the Church Commissioners are exploring the potential to boost the supply of affordable homes on their own land through the provision of Rural Exception Sites within existing communities.</p><p>More information about the Archbishops’ Housing Commission, and its Report ‘Coming Home’, can be read here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fabout%2Farchbishops-commissions%2Fhousing-church-and-community%2Fabout-coming-home&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C743208e83b2c45ca7b3108dbb83284db%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638306301073096308%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=1SAhRzdUgiChN0%2FtN0O803jj8sJGQFLqqWsRZeWfCkw%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">About Coming Home | The Church of England</a>.</p><p>Information on the Church Commissioners’ approach to delivering land for housing can be found here <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2022-05%2Fupdated-strategic-land-statement_march-2022_0.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C743208e83b2c45ca7b3108dbb83284db%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638306301073096308%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ydYb0NBNsRfVlYG1OBHg03sWDKhu8sCePS62qs0REX4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">New development – defining what matters (churchofengland.org)</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 19/09/2023 15:57:38 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1654855

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2023
	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
	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 Church of England takes to gather feedback from its congregation to inform future plans.
	tabling member constituency	Solihull
	tabling member printed	Julian Knight
	uin	195512
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>The Church of England comprises many independent charitable organisations that operate at a national, regional and local level.</p><p>Individual congregations are represented by the members of their local parochial church council (PCC), and issues can be raised at deanery, diocesan and national synod. Diocesan motions can be brought for debate to the Church of England’s (national) General Synod.</p><p>Consultations will often take place at a diocesan or national level when there are proposed changes in policy (for example the public consultation on the review of the Mission and Pastoral Measure), or for senior episcopal appointments. <br> <br> Where changes are proposed that require legislation in the General Synod on, for example, certain liturgies or relationships with other churches, the legislation providing for the change must be debated in every Diocesan Synod before a final vote is taken in the General Synod.</p><p>The National Church Institutions (NCIs) regularly monitor their projects and request feedback. A recent example is the 2022 report produced by Sir Robert Chote (<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/review-lowest-income-communities-and-strategic-development-funding" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/review-lowest-income-communities-and-strategic-development-funding</a> ) assessing the impact of the Lowest Income Communities Fund and Strategic Development Funding. Following the Chote Report the Church Commissioners and Archbishops’ Council formed the new Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board. More information about it can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/09/2023 20:04:30 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1654856

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2023
	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
	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 Church takes to (a) measure the effectiveness of its engagement initiatives and (b) make adjustments based on the feedback received.
	tabling member constituency	Solihull
	tabling member printed	Julian Knight
	uin	195513
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>The Church of England comprises many independent charitable organisations that operate at a national, regional and local level.</p><p>Individual congregations are represented by the members of their local parochial church council (PCC), and issues can be raised at deanery, diocesan and national synod. Diocesan motions can be brought for debate to the Church of England’s (national) General Synod.</p><p>Consultations will often take place at a diocesan or national level when there are proposed changes in policy (for example the public consultation on the review of the Mission and Pastoral Measure), or for senior episcopal appointments.</p><p>Where changes are proposed that require legislation in the General Synod on, for example, certain liturgies or relationships with other churches, the legislation providing for the change must be debated in every Diocesan Synod before a final vote is taken in the General Synod.</p><p>The National Church Institutions (NCIs) regularly monitor their projects and request feedback. A recent example is the 2022 report produced by Sir Robert Chote (<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/review-lowest-income-communities-and-strategic-development-funding" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/review-lowest-income-communities-and-strategic-development-funding</a> ) assessing the impact of the Lowest Income Communities Fund and Strategic Development Funding. Following the Chote Report the Church Commissioners and Archbishops’ Council formed the new Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board. More information about it can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/09/2023 20:07:24 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1654859

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Community Relations: Religion
	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 Church is taking to foster inter-faith dialogue and collaboration with other religious communities.
	tabling member constituency	Solihull
	tabling member printed	Julian Knight
	uin	195515
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>Parish ministry is at the heart of Church of England ministry and mission, including in areas that are religiously diverse.</p><p>The 2005 report <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-05/presence_and_engagement_report-2005.pdf" target="_blank"><em>Presence and Engagement: the church’s task in a multi Faith society</em></a> gave special attention to the role of the parish church in areas where there was a high proportion of people from other religions. Following this the <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/building-relationships/interfaith-relations" target="_blank">Presence and Engagement</a> programme aims to support and resource the Church of England in its engagement serving all religious communities: ‘loving, serving and witnessing to people of all faiths in the name of Christ, and being enriched and renewed in our own faith by doing so’. This vision is put into practice by the Presence &amp; Engagement Programme, the Presence &amp; Engagement Task Group, and a network of Diocesan Inter Faith Advisers.</p><p>The Presence and Engagement programme enables clergy and lay people to act with confidence and sensitivity at times of tension across religious boundaries, including times when global politics impacts local relations. Support provided includes theological resources, for example, <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/godsunfailingwordweb.pdf" target="_blank"><em>Gods Unfailing Word,</em></a> which was published in 2019 and informs and educates Anglicans about the Christian-Jewish relationship, with the aim of better dialogue and stronger relationships between Christian and Jewish communities. These resources are also used in ongoing work with theological colleges to assist in the training of new priests.</p><p>The Archbishop of Canterbury is Patron of both the <a href="https://ccj.org.uk/sites/ccj.hocext.co.uk/files/2023-01/Holocaust%20Memorial%202023%20-V2.pdf" target="_blank">Council of Christians and Jews</a> (CCJ) and the <a href="https://www.christianmuslimforum.org/" target="_blank">Christian Muslim Forum.</a> Both organisations are actively working at national and grassroots levels to boost dialogue, understanding and collaboration between different religions.</p><p><a href="https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/news-and-statements/archbishop-justin-and-chief-rabbi-mirvis-join-final-meeting-good-faith" target="_blank"><em>In Good Faith</em></a> is a national initiative co-sponsored by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chief Rabbi, which has been promoting dialogue and collaboration between Anglican priests and Orthodox rabbis since 2016.</p><p>The Church of England has a network of Inter Faith Advisers in most regions across England, who work to model, encourage and resource the development of positive relationships between different religious communities locally. Examples include building relationships through Church/Mosque Twinning partnerships, or collaborating on local foodbanks, as well as putting on educational programmes for clergy and lay people in the diocese. Two notable examples are:</p><ul><li>The <a href="https://www.stphilipscentre.co.uk/" target="_blank">St Philips Centre</a> in Leicester. A unique initiative that for over a decade has been working within the Christian community and across wider society, enabling ‘communities and individuals to encounter one another in meaningful ways, to build understanding and trust’. It is leading efforts across the region to ensure religion and belief are harnessed for the good of all.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://www.fncbham.org.uk/presence-and-engagement/" target="_blank">FNC in Birmingham</a> helps churches in their engagement with people of other faiths, whether through mission, evangelism, dialogue or social action, and is part of <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/work-other-faiths/about-presence-engagement" target="_blank">The Church of England’s Presence and Engagement Programme</a>. The <a href="https://www.fncbham.org.uk/birmingham-conversations/" target="_blank">Birmingham Conversations</a> are an example of an FNC initiative which creates safe space for people of all faiths and none to discuss issues of faith and public life.</li></ul><p>The Coronation of King Charles III included participation by other faith representatives for the first time, a very public affirmation of the national role of the Church of England in serving all religious communities.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/09/2023 20:00:47 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1654860

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Clergy
	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 Church is taking to support and empower lay leaders to take an active role in Church ministries and activities.
	tabling member constituency	Solihull
	tabling member printed	Julian Knight
	uin	195516
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>In 2017 the ‘Setting God’s People Free’ initiative was launched, which aims to empower and equip those called to lay leadership in the Church of England.</p><p>The original report of February 2017 for the General Synod is available here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/renewal-reform/setting-gods-people-free" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/about/renewal-reform/setting-gods-people-free</a></p><p>A 2019 update paper for the General Synod is available here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-06/gs-2145-sgpf-update-to-gs-final-draft-3.6.19.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-06/gs-2145-sgpf-update-to-gs-final-draft-3.6.19.pdf</a></p><p>In 2020 the Church of England’s Faith and Order Commission published ‘Kingdom Calling’, which examined past attempts to encourage more lay leadership, looking in turn at the vocation, ministry and discipleship of all God's people, and asking what kind of theological thinking and imagining might most help us to flourish together. The report affirms and celebrates the vital lay and ordained ministry roles that support the church in God's mission, and identifies changes in practice that can better foster the vocation, ministry and discipleship of the whole people of God.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/09/2023 19:40:18 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1654861

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2023
	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: Schools
	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 Church is taking to collaborate with local schools and educational institutions to promote positive values and to engage with students and educators.
	tabling member constituency	Solihull
	tabling member printed	Julian Knight
	uin	195517
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2023 answer text <p>Church of England schools are community schools educating over a million children a day. As a community school in many parts of the country, particularly our major cities, this means the majority of pupils are from non-Christian backgrounds, from other faith communities and from global majority ethnic backgrounds. All Church of England schools follow the national curriculum and also the Church of England’s <em>vision for education</em>, prioritising education of the whole child and promoting the spiritual, intellectual and emotional resources needed to live a good life. The vision for education encourages the development of the skills of wisdom, hope, community and respect; fostering a society where people can work together and have an understanding of British values, democracy, rule of law and the dignity of the human person. More details about this vision and the church schools can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools</a><br> <strong><br> </strong>Awards of nearly £13 million have been made for dioceses to help churches support more children, young people and families. The grants from the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board of the Archbishops’ Council will revitalise parishes and start new congregations. The investments build on already successful projects to create new congregations and reach children and young people in areas including Bolton, Bournemouth, Guildford, Southampton and Wakefield. More information is available here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/church-england-announces-ps13-million-grants-reach-children-youth-and?utm_source=Daily+media+digest&amp;utm_campaign=ba03a2c802-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_11_27_02_01_COPY_01&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_296e14724b-ba03a2c802-248596957&amp;mc_cid=ba03a2c802&amp;mc_eid=00c4419747" target="_blank">Church of England announces £13 million of grants to reach children, youth and families | The Church of England</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/09/2023 19:38:26 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight