Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1134964

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Theft
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Commissioners will make an estimate of the number of thefts of lead from church buildings in (a) the diocese of St Albans and (b) England in (i) 2018 and (ii) 2019 to date.
	tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
	uin	269594
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The National Church Institutions do not hold information centrally about the theft of metal from Church of England churches, but records are kept at a diocesan level. Anecdotal evidence points to an increase in instances of metal theft from churches nationwide, with East Anglia and the Midlands being most affected.</p><p>Home Office Counting Rules do not require the police to record if a theft is from a listed building. The Church of England welcomes the July 2019 Sentencing Council proposals to introduce new sentencing guidelines for arson, criminal damage and vandalism of national heritage assets, including listed buildings, historic objects or unique parts of our historic environment.</p><p>Money to fund repairs or adaptations to church buildings is raised by local churches mainly through fundraising and local giving. There is no central Government funding, except through grants in respect of VAT paid on repairs to listed churches.</p><p>The following table for the Diocese of St Albans shows cases of metal theft or attempted theft since 2015. The Diocese covers the majority of the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire area and contains 380 Anglican churches.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Number of Attacks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Diocese provides advice to local churches on protective and preventative measures, including forensic marking and roof alarms, working with the Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust and the Allchurches Trust. Grants of up to £3,000 per church have been made available to more than 55 churches in the Diocese. In addition the Diocesan Board of Finance allocated 29 roof alarm grants in 2017 and 2018 from small trust funds for church repairs and maintenance. As a result there has been a significant reduction in the number of cases of metal theft in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, though incidents still occur. For example, in June 2019 St Mary's Church in Furneux Pelham north east Hertfordshire, had 90% of its lead roof stolen or damaged over a single weekend.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 08/07/2019 15:08:36 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 125947 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

1138229

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	George Bell
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2019 to Question 227049 on George Bell, whether the £29,800 represents the full payment for all costs incurred by the church in its initial judgement on Bishop George Bell; and what proportion of that sum was used for costs for (a) lawyers and (b) damages.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	275686
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>The former First Church Estates Commissioner gave the answer to the General Synod in July 2016, this can be found on page 58 of the Reports and Proceedings of the General Synod: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-10/July%202016%20Report%20of%20Proceedings%20w.index_.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-10/July%202016%20Report%20of%20Proceedings%20w.index_.pdf</a>. <br>As the former First Church Estates Commissioner confirmed in his replies on that occasion, it is not the usual practice of the Church Commissioners to report on legal expenditure.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 18/07/2019 12:12:18 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 128819 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1138979

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the (a) Church of England and (b) Church in Wales have had with (i) other religious and faith bodies, (ii) the Government and (iii) the Equality and Human Rights Commission on the exemption of those bodies from equality legislation for appointments and provision of services.
	tabling member constituency	Gower
	tabling member printed	Tonia Antoniazzi
	uin	277265
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 contains provisions that allow religious organisations to apply a limited range of religious occupational requirements to comply with the doctrines of the religion or to avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious beliefs of a significant number of the religion’s followers. The ability to apply religious occupational requirements arises where the employment is “for the purposes of an organised religion” and is not specific to the Church of England.</p><p>The Church of England has regular discussions with other religious and faith bodies, with HM Government, and with the Equality and Human Rights Commission on matters of mutual interest. From time to time these will include reflections on the importance for religious freedom of the provisions that protect faith and belief in the Equality Act.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 18/07/2019 10:47:39 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 129637 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4623 label Biography information for Tonia Antoniazzi

1138986

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Theft
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to Answer of 8 July 2019 to Question 269594 on Churches, which dioceses keep records of (a) thefts and (b) attempted thefts of metal.
	tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
	uin	277093
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>Detailed information on this is not held centrally. <br>Historic England has the most comprehensive list of churches and other listed buildings that have experience thefts or attempted thefts of metal.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 18/07/2019 12:22:14 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 129638 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

1138987

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: St Albans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2019 to Question 269594, whether the Diocese of St Albums holds any records of the type of metal stolen.
	tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
	uin	277094
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>This information is not held centrally. The St Albans Diocesan Office keeps a record of the types of metals stolen from churches and the frequency of thefts. <br>For a more detailed breakdown please contact the Pastoral and Advisory Secretary, Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans, Herts. AL1 1HE.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 18/07/2019 12:22:42 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 129639 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

1138988

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Theft
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Commissioners plan to investigate which roofing material is (a) least likely to be stolen and (b) best value; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
	uin	277095
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>The Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division of the Archbishops’ Council provide advice and guidance to churches on a range of issues, including roofing materials. <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings</a></p><p> </p><p>Incidents of theft from non-metal roofs are rare, though there is a risk to some rarer types of slate or stone, which are most vulnerable when they are removed for repair. <br>Terne-coated stainless steel is unlikely to be stolen as it is difficult to manipulate and has a low scrap value for the work and risk involved. Metal and other material is least likely to be stolen from a church that has installed an effective alarm.</p><p> </p><p>Lead is the most likely metal to be stolen due to its value and the ease of removing it, followed by copper roofing and rainwater pipes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 18/07/2019 12:23:34 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 129640 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

1139907

	registered interest
	date	17/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Gambling
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to tackle problem gambling.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	278399
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2019 answer text <p>Gambling-related harm impacts the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the country. Of particular concern is the 55,000 children classified as problem gamblers in Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>The Church of England and the bishops in the House of Lords have regularly raised this issue with the Government, charities and the industry itself.</p><p> </p><p>The Bishop of St Albans successfully campaigned with others to reduce the stake on fixed-odds betting terminals in Great Britain and tabled an amendment to the Northern Ireland Executive (Formation) Bill 2019 to ask the Government to report on the case for legislative and regulatory alignment between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government accepted this amendment.</p><p> </p><p>The Bishop of St Albans also sponsored a motion for debate in the General Synod of the Church of England, which was passed at the February 2019 session. He also successfully balloted for the House of Lords to establish the Select Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry. The Committee Inquiry is underway and is expected to report between March and April 2020.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 22/07/2019 15:27:50 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1140278

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Crimes of Violence: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England plans to take to implement the decision taken at the General Synod in July 2019 in relation to the motion on Tackling Serious Youth Violence.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	279089
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Division sponsored the debate at the General Synod in July 2019 and is working with dioceses to develop best practice information and training for church leaders and communities to tackle serious youth violence.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 25/07/2019 16:25:09 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 130242 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1140279

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Crimes of Violence: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England’s Education Department is taking to implement the decision taken at the General Synod in July 2019 in relation to the motion on tackling serious youth violence in schools; and what guidance it is planning to issue to youth workers.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	279090
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England Vision for Education identifies four core themes (wisdom, knowledge and skills; hope and aspiration; community and living well together; dignity and respect) which underpin all of our work in education. School leadership networks will be focusing on serious youth violence as part of these core themes. An education which promotes hope, aspiration and dignity is a vital part of addressing serious youth violence.</p><p>One aspect of this debate relates to the impact of school exclusions on vulnerable young people. Church of England schools exclude fewer children than non-church schools and the Church’s commitment to the vulnerable and disadvantaged means that we will continue to explore ways of further reducing the negative impact of exclusion.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 25/07/2019 16:25:37 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 130244 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1140803

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Grants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are being taken to promote the new four year Grant Programme through the Churches Trust.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	280172
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England’s Church Buildings Council regularly communicates with all grant-making bodies and information about the grants available to parishes is communicated through the Diocesan Advisory Committees.</p><p>The Church of England offers general advice to its parishes about restoration, repair and grants on the Church Care section of its website: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare</a></p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 25/07/2019 16:24:32 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1141741

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Anglicanism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England has plans to adopt the approach of the Global Anglican Future Conference as a model for the (a) growth and (b) development of the Anglican Communion.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	281578
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The policies, structures and strategic development of the Anglican Communion are not matters for which the Church Commissioners has responsibility.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/09/2019 14:00:55 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1141744

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Global Anglican Future Conference: Rwanda
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Archbishop of Canterbury plans to attend the 2020 Global Anglican Future Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	281579
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>At previous meetings of the Global Anglican Future Conference the Archbishop of Canterbury has been represented by a diocesan bishop of the Church of England. No decision has yet been taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury about whether he or a representative will attend the 2020 Conference in Kigali.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/09/2019 14:04:02 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1141745

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Transgender People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church of England will clarify its interpretation of biblical teaching on sex and gender in relation to transgender issues.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	281580
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England is currently undertaking a consultative process called ‘Living in Love and Faith’, which is considering all matters of sexuality and gender.</p><p>In 2018 the House of Bishops issued Pastoral Guidance for use in conjunction with the Affirmation of Baptismal Faith in the context of gender transition, which can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/Pastoral%20Guidance-Affirmation-Baptismal-Faith.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/Pastoral%20Guidance-Affirmation-Baptismal-Faith.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/09/2019 14:05:54 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1141746

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Church of England: Staff
	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 proportion of Church of England employees are practising Christians.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	281581
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>It is not possible to give the proportion of employees either at a parish, diocesan or national institution-level who are practising Christians as information on this is not recorded or held centrally. Some posts within the National Church Institutions have a Genuine Occupational Requirement to either be a ‘Practising or Communicant member of the Church of England or a member of a Church in communion with the Church of England’.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/09/2019 14:06:25 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1141747

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Church of England: Theology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to help ensure that its theology is founded on the 39 articles.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	281582
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The founding theology of the Church of England is drawn from a combination of documents, beliefs and practices known as the ‘Historic Formularies’ and Canon Law. The Historic Formularies consist of scripture, the Book of Common Prayer, the 39 Articles of Religion and the Ordinal.</p><p>Priests of the Church of England are required to affirm their acceptance of the Historic Formularies at their ordination during the Declaration of Assent. The text of this can be found under Canon C15: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/canons-church-england/section-c" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/canons-church-england/section-c</a></p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/09/2019 14:07:42 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1141748

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Anglicanism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Archbishop of Canterbury will pledge his commitment to the Jerusalem Statement of 2008.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	281583
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Archbishop Rowan Willams responded to the publication of the Jerusalem Statement by the Global Anglican Futures Conference in 2008, the full text of which can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2008/06/archbishop-of-canterbury-responds-to-gafcon-statement.aspx" target="_blank">https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2008/06/archbishop-of-canterbury-responds-to-gafcon-statement.aspx</a></p><p>The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is committed to pointing towards the good news of Jesus and the renewal of the Church. The Archbishop is looking forward to the Lambeth Conference taking place in 2020 with the theme “God’s Church for God’s world.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 03/09/2019 14:08:27 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1156262

	registered interest
	date	24/10/2019
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Theft
	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 he has made of trends in the level of major property thefts from Churches in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	4943
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>The Church of England does not hold data on thefts centrally, but it is kept by local police forces, Historic England and the insurance industry.</p><p>The most prominent form of property theft from churches is that of metal (mainly lead from roofs) and of historic building materials such as flagstones. These are items with a high resale value and which, once removed, can be difficult to identify as coming from a particular place. Because of the largely historic nature of the buildings targeted these thefts are counted as heritage crime. This issue does not just affect churches; it is so widespread that it is the subject of a joint project and Memorandum of Understanding signed by the National Police Chiefs' Council, the Crown Prosecution Service, Historic England and a growing number of local authorities, community safety partnerships and National Park Authorities. It is an agreement to work in partnership with each other to prevent and solve crimes against historic places.</p><p>The Church of England is an active partner in identifying and tackling heritage crime, especially metal theft. The church is part of Operation Crucible, the police-led initiative investigating metal theft, and it has become clear over recent years that this form of criminal behaviour is now being undertaken by organised gangs. The earlier changes to the law did initially lead to a drop in reported incidences, but recently the issue has again become more widespread. The Church of England submitted evidence to the review of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act in 2017 asking the Government to tighten up the Act to better reflect the changing behaviour of both the scrap metal trade and the organised criminal activity.</p><p>Due to the highly mobile nature of this form of organised criminal activity and without increased resource, it is hard to see how police and heritage crime officers will be able to address the increase in thefts we are seeing across the country. Thefts are moving gradually west and north along the major transport routes. This year the Church has had the first reports of metal and stone theft in the Bath &amp; Wells Diocese and in the Yorkshire Dioceses. Tightening up of the law, therefore, needs to be accompanied by increased police resources and greater political will.</p><p>Parish churches are maintained by volunteers on behalf of the local community. Aside from the financial impact of these thefts, the impact on communities is significant. The social and community impact of the crime, as well as the criminal damage to listed buildings, needs to be addressed at sentencing, as even the theft of small amounts of lead or stone cost has a huge impact on local people. These buildings represent our country’s local and national heritage. Due to the highly mobile nature of criminal gangs, it is essential that police and local churches work together to ensure that heritage crime does not become a decreasing priority for police forces.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 05/11/2019 15:30:10 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 3752 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell