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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

982584

registered interest
date	08/10/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Church Commissioners
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, which AGMs the Commissioners have attended in relation to companies in which shares are held by the Commissioners in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	175978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2018 answer text <p>In 2016 the Church Commissioners established an engagement team in conjunction with the Church of England Pensions Board, reflecting the importance of engagement in the application of our ethical investment policies. The engagement team has responsibility for voting our shareholdings in publicly listed companies, preparing ethical exclusion lists, and engaging companies in which we are shareholders on issues related to our ethical policies. During 2017 they undertook 112 engagements on behalf of the Church Commissioners, which ranged from letter-based contact to regular meetings with Chairs or Board members. The most significant proportion of face-to-face meetings remained with companies in the extractive industries. A list of company AGMs attended by the Church Commissioners’ Engagement Team in 2016, 2017 and 2018 (to date) is below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>ANGLO AMERICAN PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>BHP BILLITON PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>BP PLC, LONDON</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Centrica plc Exxon</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>GLENCORE PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>OCADO GROUP</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>RIO TINTO PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>TULLOW OIL</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>ANGLO AMERICAN PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Antofagasta plc</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>BP PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Exxon</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Glencore plc</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>RIO TINTO PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>ANGLO AMERICAN PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>BP PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Centrica plc</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>EXXON</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Glencore plc</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Millennium &amp; Copthorne Hotels plc</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>RIO TINTO PLC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Royal Dutch Shell</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>WPP plc.</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 11/10/2018 16:22:52 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

982756

registered interest
date	08/10/2018
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: Social Rented Housing
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, which housing estates (a) in the Greater London area and (b) elsewhere have been sold by the Church Commissioners; and whether guarantees were sought that those estates would remain in social housing ownership.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	175982
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2018 answer text <p>In 2005 and 2006 following careful consideration the Church Commissioners took the decision to sell what were known as the Octavia Hill Estates, comprising approximately 1,580 flats and houses within the Greater London area.</p><p> </p><p>The sales, to a joint venture between Grainger plc and Genesis Housing Group, were subject to the residents’ leases, and the rights and obligations contained in these remained. A commitment was made to engage with residents’ associations and to keep in touch with tenants as the sales progressed to keep them fully informed. Some tenants had the right to purchase their properties and this was communicated to the qualifying tenants.</p><p> </p><p>In 1985 the Church Commissioners took the decision to sell their residential property holdings in Brixton to a housing association. According to the records of the Commissioners covenants were not placed on these properties and to the best of knowledge these properties are still owned by a housing association.</p><p> </p><p>The Church Commissioners are not and have never been a social housing provider and have a statutory duty to deliver the best possible return on their investments to fund the work and mission of the Church of England across the country. The Church Commissioners continue to provide new housing across the country where they have land holdings and affordable housing is a key part of that provision.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 19/10/2018 15:07:24 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 77536 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

964564

registered interest
date	03/09/2018
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 steps are being taken to promote greater diversity by (a) gender (b) ethnicity and (c) sexual orientation in leadership positions within the Church.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff South and Penarth
tabling member printed	Stephen Doughty
uin	169369
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>Increasing diversity among the clergy is a priority for the Church of England. Nationally the Church has set a target that it will increase the overall number of people recommended for training by 50% over a five-year period. The Church is well on the way to deliver this and has already seen a 22% increase in those entering training since 2016. The Ministry Division of the Archbishops’ Council has developed programmes to support those who are being called to the priesthood from as wide a range of communities and backgrounds as possible. Members of the Crown Nominations Commission who are involved in the recruitment and discernment process for the most senior appointments also undergo unconscious bias training.</p><p>During 2018 the Church recommended 316 women for training, which was 54% of the total. This represents the highest proportion of women entering training that the Church has seen in the last ten years.</p><p>The most recent data from 2017 shows that around 6% of those entering training self-identify as being from a minority ethnic background. The Church responded by recruiting a National ME Vocations Officer to address this underrepresentation of minority ethnic clergy and through the “Turning up the Volume” programme is supporting future senior leaders. The Ordained Vocations Mentor Directory was also created to help support those at any stage on the journey towards ordained vocations who would like a mentor.</p><p>The Church of England does not record or keep data on the sexual orientation of candidates.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 15/10/2018 15:24:42 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman previous answer version 77537 answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	4264 label Biography information for Stephen Doughty

945523

registered interest
date	20/07/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Cathedrals: Insolvency
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 whether proposed recommendations by the Cathedrals Working Group on winding-up provisions in the event of a cathedral’s insolvency could result in creditors receiving less than they would otherwise.
tabling member constituency	Llanelli
tabling member printed	Nia Griffith
uin	166471
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2018 answer text <p>The General Synod of the Church of England debated the Cathedrals Working Group report earlier this month. The Synod requested the Archbishops’ Council to bring forward a draft Measure for First Consideration at the July 2019 group of sessions, to give effect to the recommendations that involve legislative change. Preparatory work is expected to include an assessment of how the jurisdiction of the courts in relation to insolvency applies to cathedrals and what, if any, changes might be made.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 25/07/2018 13:40:33 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	1541 label Biography information for Dame Nia Griffith

919298

registered interest
date	07/06/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Seaham
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 26 April 2018, Official Report, col 1014, whether she has held discussions with the diocese on St Mary’s the Virgin Church, Seaham.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	151150
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2018 answer text <p>Since my oral answer of 26<sup>th</sup> April 2018 (Official Report, col 1014) I have consulted with representatives of the Diocese and of Seaham Parish and I understand that the land being developed is not owned either by the Parish, the Diocese or the Church Commissioners. Any objections must therefore be made formally and in the usual manner to the Local Authority planning office.</p><p> </p><p>To date the Diocese has not been asked to submit a view on the development. It would be for the Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s the Virgin to ask them to do so.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 11/06/2018 15:22:31 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

917122

registered interest
date	04/06/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Jeremy Pemberton
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, how much the Church of England spent on the employment tribunal involving Jeremy Pemberton; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Exeter
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
uin	149586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/06/2018 answer text <p><em><em>It is not the practice of the Church Commissioners to disclose expenditure on the costs of legal proceedings of this kind (they are not required to do so under s.5 Episcopal Endowments and Stipends Measure 1943). The Church Commissioners have decided not to pursue the claimant for the costs they incurred as a result of his unsuccessful tribunal and subsequent appeals.</em></em></p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 06/06/2018 15:11:40 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

889931

registered interest
date	23/04/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Out-of-school Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, could she update the House on the view of the Church of England’s Education Office following the publication of the Government’s response to the Out-of-school education consultation.
tabling member constituency	Harrow East
tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
uin	136983
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2018 answer text <p>Following the publication of the findings from the Department for Education’s consultation on out-of-school education, the Church of England’s Chief Education Officer, the Revd Nigel Genders, said: “We welcome the Government’s response to the consultation and the proposals to focus resources and energy on the areas of most concern rather than creating unhelpful bureaucracy.” The Church of England will go on working with Government on any proposal that would achieve this outcome.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 30/05/2018 14:33:00 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

872557

registered interest
date	27/03/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to news release Church of England’s National Investing Bodies launch policy on investing in Extractive Industries, published by the Church of England in November 2017, what steps the Church Commissioners have taken to promote ethical investment policies in respect of the extractive industries to other faiths.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	134371
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/03/2018 answer text <p>The Extractive Industries Policy of the National Investing Bodies of the Church of England was launched in November 2017. During the development of the policy, we sought views from both faith and non-faith organisations. Since the policy launch, the Church Commissioners have discussed our new approach with various faith and non-faith organisations and are due to present the policy to the Church Investors Group in the coming months.</p><p>A number of the areas of the policy require engagement with extractive industry companies. Our approach has been to seek input and collaboration with other faith investors. We have also shared the policy and outlined approach widely within different faith networks. The Commissioners will continue to seek opportunities to work collaboratively with faith and non-faith investors on this issue of particular ethical importance.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 29/03/2018 10:24:26 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

862075

registered interest
date	14/03/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Blackburn
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 13 March 2018 to Question 131116 on Churches: Blackburn, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of drafting contracts for church spires and towers to host broadband and mobile facilities which take into account circumstances in which Church authorities subsequently wish to demolish such buildings to make alternative use of Church land.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	132494
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2018 answer text <p>The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Archbishops’ Council and the Church of England’s Parish Buying team are currently drafting guidance for those parishes that wish to engage with the project. Agreements will be entered into on a parish-by-parish basis. The guidance being produced for parishes will include advice on termination of contracts arising from the closure of a church.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 19/03/2018 16:31:52 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick