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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

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

857659

registered interest
date	08/03/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Infrastructure
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 funding is available for church infrastructure projects.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	904239
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2018 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners provide financial and administrative support to cathedrals and dioceses. It is up to each self-governing church or cathedral to raise funds for development projects, and the National Church Institutions provide advice and support.</p><p>The changing priorities and declining budget of the Heritage Lottery Fund is a matter of concern, as this is where much fundraising money comes from; officers at national level continue to work with the Heritage Lottery Fund on the specific issues churches face. The HLF is currently reviewing its strategic priorities and I would encourage all Hon. members to consider sending in a response, making the importance of churches as community assets clear.</p><p>The Church of England has been in discussions with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and HM Treasury about the current underspend of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, realocating the underspend would enable the Church to deliver a number of the recommendations in the Taylor Review.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 08/03/2018 14:53:55 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

857088

registered interest
date	07/03/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Broadband and WiFi
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Honourable Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what plans the Church of England has to make its buildings available for broadcasting (a) Wi-Fi and (b) broadband signal to improve connectivity in rural areas; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Shrewsbury and Atcham
tabling member printed	Daniel Kawczynski
uin	131600
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2018 answer text <p>The Church of England recently signed an Accord with Her Majesty’s Government to enable churches to improve broadband and mobile connectivity, particularly in rural areas. The Accord sets out how the Government and the Church can collaborate to help achieve this. Specifically, companies are being invited to tender to provide connectivity under a framework agreement with rural parish churches. The intention of the Accord is to indicate to Church Chancellors, Diocesan Advisory Committees and Local Planning Departments that there is no institutional barrier to this technology being used to promote connectivity in a manner appropriate for the community.</p><p>Currently, 86.4% of households in the Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency can access superfast speeds - up from 5% in 2011. Church buildings and property may be a good way to reach the last 13.6% of the constituency.</p><p>The Church of England is in the process setting up a working group with interested dioceses to identify areas where further work or guidance may be required to support the Accord. Discussions are also ongoing with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to establish where the barriers are to progress this project further.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 13/03/2018 14:44:33 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	1566 label Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski

855893

registered interest
date	06/03/2018
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Jerusalem
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 Church of England has had with the leaders of other Christian Churches on the closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
tabling member constituency	Walsall North
tabling member printed	Eddie Hughes
uin	904236
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2018 answer text <p>The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has reopened following three days of closure which left pilgrims and visitors praying in the square outside. The dispute was over a new tax policy and proposed land expropriation law.</p><p>Officials from Church House and staff at Lambeth Palace were in regular contact with the Heads of Churches Group in the City of Jerusalem through Archbishop Suheil the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem as the events unfolded. On the 5<sup>th</sup> of March, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster wrote a joint letter to the Israeli Ambassador in the UK, to say that both Churches believed “the measures being pressed in Jerusalem and in the Knesset, were a clear and evident threat to the status quo and that this risked undermining prospects for peaceful coexistence between communities, at a time of already heightened tensions.” Specifically, that, “the new policy would cause serious damage to the Christian presence in Jerusalem, to Christian families, and to the Christian institutions, including hospitals and schools, which serve many of the poorest people, regardless of their background.”</p><p>The Church of England and the Roman Catholic Bishops Conference in England and Wales will continue to work closely together on issues relating to Israel and Palestine. Bishops from around the world make an annual joint visit to the Holy Land as part of the Holy Land Coordination Group. The Bishop of Southwark along with the Catholic Bishops will be hosting a meeting for all Members on the 15<sup>th</sup> May, 3-4pm in Committee Room 2A to discuss and feedback the findings of their visit.</p> answering member constituency Meriden answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman question first answered 08/03/2018 15:02:00 answering member 312 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman
tabling member	4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes