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1014643

	registered interest
	date	26/11/2018
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Ministers: Correspondence
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House whether there is a protocol relating to whether letters to ministers from members of the House of Lords should receive replies; and if so, how quickly replies should be sent.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL11781
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/12/2018 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of effective and timely handling of correspondence with members of the House of Lords. Government departments should aim to provide a substantive response to routine correspondence within a maximum of 20 working days. However, sometimes circumstances dictate that it will not be possible to provide a response within this timeframe. In such instances, departments are advised to issue a ‘holding’ response until a more substantive response can be provided.</p><p>The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report detailing departmental performance in the handling of correspondence from members of both Houses. Lord Young of Cookham set out the 2017 performance figures in a Written Statement on 26 June 2018 (HLWS771). The 2018 performance figures will be published in summer 2019.</p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 10/12/2018 16:30:31 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

971894

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2018
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Home Office: Written Questions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House what explanations she has received from the Home Office about that Department's failure to answer within 10 working days three questions for written answer (HL9827, HL9860 and HL9890) which were tabled on 24 July.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jopling
	uin	HL10256
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2018 answer text <p>As Leader of the House I take very seriously the responsibility incumbent on all Ministers to provide full, timely and comprehensible answers to Questions for Written Answer (QWAs).</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In this instance I am informed that the Home Office is working towards an appropriate response, noting that this is subject to ongoing legal proceedings. I have been assured by the Department that an answer will be provided as soon as possible. In the meantime, I know that the Home Office has been in touch with the relevant members of the House to apologise and to provide an explanation for the delay.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>My office will continue to work with all departments to ensure prompt and satisfactory answers to all QWAs.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 13/09/2018 16:01:58 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	883 label Biography information for Lord Jopling

971895

	registered interest
	date	11/09/2018
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Home Office: Written Questions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House what steps she has taken to draw the failure of the Home Office to answer within 10 working days three questions for written answer which were tabled on 24 July (HL9827, HL9860 and HL9890) to the attention of Home Office ministers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Jopling
	uin	HL10257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2018 answer text <p>As Leader of the House I take very seriously the responsibility incumbent on all Ministers to provide full, timely and comprehensible answers to Questions for Written Answer (QWAs).</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>I have raised the outstanding answers with the Minister of State for Counter Extremism and understand that members concerned have been contacted by the Home Office to apologise for the delay and to provide an explanation as to why these answers have not yet been provided. I know that the Minister will answer the questions as soon as is possible.</p><p> </p><p>My office will continue to work with all departments to ensure prompt and satisfactory answers to all QWAs.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 13/09/2018 16:02:31 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	883 label Biography information for Lord Jopling

984361

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2018
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Parental Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what assessment has been made of the effect of IPSA's family leave policy on the (a) provision of adequate office arrangements for Members and (b)(i) physical and (ii) mental health of parliamentary staff returning from such leave.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	177316
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2018 answer text <p>I have asked the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority to reply.</p><p>Letter from Marcial Boo, chief executive of IPSA, 10 October 2018:</p><p>The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) provides Family Leave Guidance in relation to staff employed by MPs, a copy of which can be found on our website at: <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/QKKeCvlGAf2N028cQYpib?domain=theipsa.org.uk" target="_blank">http://www.theipsa.org.uk/ipsa-for-mps/guidance</a>.</p><p>This document provides guidance on maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption leave, shared parental leave, KIT/SPLIT days and caring leave. This is not a policy, but guidance to MPs on the statutory entitlements. As the legal employers of their staff, MPs are responsible for matters of individual staffing arrangements, such as approving instances of family leave and ensuring that they comply with relevant employment legislation.</p><p>As the document is guidance rather than a policy, and relates only to the statutory entitlements, we have not undertaken any specific assessment of its effects. However, IPSA encourages responsible employment and any necessary expenditure by MPs on the health and welfare of their staff, including their mental health. MPs can claim the cost of staff health and welfare costs, such as occupational health assessments, from their staffing budgets. We also undertake Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) in relation to major changes to our Scheme of MPs’ Business Costs and Expenses. We last undertook an EIA in March 2017 which concluded that changes proposed to our Scheme were likely to have a small positive impact on MPs’ staff in relation to pregnancy and maternity. A copy of that report can be found on our website at: <a href="https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/fz7eCwVJBfA8ZAxIqtIAt?domain=theipsa.org.uk" target="_blank">http://www.theipsa.org.uk/publications/consultations/review-of-the-mps-scheme-of-business-costs-and-expenses</a>.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 11/10/2018 09:15:05 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1016120

	registered interest
	date	28/11/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Community Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent steps the Church of England has taken at parish level to support the needs of local communities.
	tabling member constituency	Gillingham and Rainham
	tabling member printed	Rehman Chishti
	uin	907925
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2018 answer text <p>This year the Church of England surveyed its 16,000 parish churches about their involvement in social action and local community projects. Of the 13,000 churches that responded the survey revealed that 80% were involved in providing services for the benefit of their local communities, either standalone or in partnership with others. These 33,000 projects included debt counselling, lunch clubs, language classes, food banks, children’s clubs, community cafes, holiday and breakfast clubs and night shelters.</p><p>There are many good examples of work in the Rochester Diocese, 11 of the 12 Church of England churches within the Gillingham deanery (which covers the Gillingham and Rainham constituency) are involved in providing on average at least 4 different projects to support the wider local community.</p><p>The areas in which the churches in Gillingham deanery are engaging is as follows:</p><ul><li>10 churches provide or support a Foodbank</li><li>8 churches operate a parent/carer and toddler group</li><li>7 churches operate a night shelter or other homeless provision</li><li>6 churches provide pastoral provision for wider community through operating street pastors groups, counselling/support, tackling loneliness projects</li><li>5 churches operate Youth projects (for the wider community)</li><li>4 churches provide a Lunch club or drop in service.</li></ul> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 29/11/2018 16:16:39 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	3987 label Biography information for Rehman Chishti

1013179

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Charitable Donations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of trends in the level of demand for charitable donations since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	195133
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>The underlying financial health of the Church of England’s parishes is a testament to the generosity of the commitment of congregations and local communities across the country. The most recent assessment of Church of England parish finances relate to 2016 when total giving to the 12,400 parishes was £3million more than the previous year. Between 2010 and 2016 total giving increased by 8.5%.</p><p /> <p>The figures also show that in 2016 Church of England parishes donated £46 million to supporting other charities working in the UK around the world, from foodbanks and local children's charities to international aid appeals.</p><p /> <p>Detailed figures for giving and charitable donations can be found in the 2016 Parish Finances Statistics here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/2016ParishFinanceStatistics.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/2016ParishFinanceStatistics.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 27/11/2018 17:17:27 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

1010759

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Christianity: Middle East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Right Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Church Commissioners have had on maintaining the Christian community in the Middle East.
	tabling member constituency	Crawley
	tabling member printed	Henry Smith
	uin	193461
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2018 answer text <p>The Church of England continues to work alongside the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem to support the Christian community in Jordan, Syria, Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. The Church also partners and engages with development and mission agencies working to support Christian communities overseas. Regular pilgrimage visits are made by parishes and dioceses of the Church of England, mainly to those holy sites that are not in conflict zones and which often involve meetings with local Christians</p><p><br>Westminster Abbey will be holding a special service on the 4th December at which His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will attend to offer encouragement to Christians throughout the region and to celebrate the contributions they make to their communities</p><p><br>The Archbishop of Canterbury made an official visit to Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories in 2017, the primary purpose of which was to affirm the Christian community in the Holy Land, to identify and explore challenges relating to religious freedom and to give encouragement to St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem. The Archbishop also met with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian politicians during his visit</p><p><br>During the November parliamentary recess I joined a small group of MPs on a regional visit to see for myself the challenges faced by the Christian community in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. We visited a number of projects that are funded or supported by the Anglican Church, including hospitals and schools. Speaking with the different communities gave a helpful perspective on the significant challenges to the daily lives and movements of people.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 22/11/2018 16:11:52 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1013180

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Repairs and Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what support the Church Commissioners receive from Her Majesty's Government to enable them to maintain (a) redundant and (b) under-utilised churches.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh North and Leith
	tabling member printed	Deidre Brock
	uin	195134
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners receive no direct Government support for maintaining redundant or under-utilised churches.</p><p> </p><p>The Church Commissioners and DCMS provide financial support for the Churches Conservation Trust, which cares for redundant churches of special architectural significance, and for which no suitable alternative use can be found. The Grants to the Churches Conservation Trust Order 2016, (which can be found here: <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2016/9780111142738" target="_blank">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2016/9780111142738</a>) sets out the basis of Government funding from 1<sup>st</sup> April 2016 to 31<sup>st</sup> March 2020.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 27/11/2018 17:19:29 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4417 label Biography information for Deidre Brock

999694

	registered interest
	date	01/11/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Clergy: Carers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Right Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether women in ministry with caring responsibilities are in receipt of their full stipend.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	187076
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2018 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners do not have details of how many clergy have asked for time off or adjustments, or the level of support for caring for dependants and assistance with cover, as arrangements for this are best made locally – whether within the parish, or arranged with the assistance of the area dean or archdeacon.</p><p>Since office holders do not report on the number or arrangement of the hours they work in performance of their duties of office, it is not known how many clergy women (and men) take advantage of this flexibility to care for their dependants whilst holding full time offices and receiving full stipend.</p><p>All clergy (women and men) holding office on Common Tenure have a legal right to make a formal request for time off, or for adjustments to their duties of office, to care for a dependant. The latest statistics show that there were 330 women and 310 men in part-time stipendiary clergy roles at the end of 2017. It is likely that a full time stipendiary office holder who makes a request for their duties of office to be permanently adjusted to part-time in order to care for a dependant would receive a corresponding reduction in stipend. The decision as to whether an office holder receives full stipend during any formally requested time off to care for a dependant is made by the bishop on a case by case basis. The Bishop may grant special leave (usually on compassionate grounds)during which office holders usually receive their full stipend.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 05/11/2018 16:55:56 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

984597

	registered interest
	date	09/10/2018
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Cathedrals: Salisbury
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what the policy of the Commissioners is on renewal of leaseholds within the precincts of Salisbury Cathedral; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	New Forest West
	tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
	uin	177148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>Lease renewals within the Close at Salisbury are a matter for the Chapter of Salisbury Cathedral and the Church Commissioners do not therefore have a policy on this matter. The Chapter at Salisbury Cathedral sought the Church Commissioners consent under the Cathedrals Measure 1999 for a proposal to be offered to qualifying tenants. The Church Commissioners acknowledge that the Dean and Chapter have undertaken all due diligence in respect of this proposal but were unable to approve it without a quantified assessment of its impact on the Cathedral’s mission. Since that date the Third Estates Commissioner has met with the Dean and representatives of Chapter in September and has written to the Chapter recognising the difficulties in making this assessment.</p><p>Following these discussions, we understand that the Chapter at Salisbury is intending to review the matter.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 15/10/2018 13:24:51 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne