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1539976

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Christianity: Nigeria
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on taking steps to help tackle (a) violence against and (b) the abduction of Christians in Nigeria in the last 18 months.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	80704
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2022 answer text <p>Bishops and officials of the Church of England regularly engage with Ministers and officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on a range of thematic and geographic concerns regarding freedom of religion or belief, which include the human rights situation in China, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Bishops in the House of Lords regularly raise concerns about the same through questions to Government. Details of these can be seen at:</p><p>Nigeria: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2Ftag%2Fnigeria%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=rDDECckrNM83i%2BCNIOpm%2BMsb4bF7Z6DGRn8AxXchEH0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Nigeria – The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)</a></p><p>Democratic Republic of Congo: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2F%3Fs%3DCongo&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=iyiDcEekae0YmKzh7Te%2Fo1CKabbeJuvVbUyDN9TwWeM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank"> The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)</a></p><p>China: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2Ftag%2Fchina%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=BR%2Bgl8hyphPWo7GSJnvVeihn6%2Blcgh%2BYffZzqaDJUro%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">China – The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)<p><p></a>Most recently on 17th November the Bishop of St Albans led a debate in the House of Lords on allegations of human rights abuses in China.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 80705 80706 question first answered 01/12/2022 12:59:27 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1539977

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Christianity: Democratic Republic of Congo
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on taking steps to help tackle violence against Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	80705
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2022 answer text <p>Bishops and officials of the Church of England regularly engage with Ministers and officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on a range of thematic and geographic concerns regarding freedom of religion or belief, which include the human rights situation in China, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Bishops in the House of Lords regularly raise concerns about the same through questions to Government. Details of these can be seen at:</p><p>Nigeria: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2Ftag%2Fnigeria%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=rDDECckrNM83i%2BCNIOpm%2BMsb4bF7Z6DGRn8AxXchEH0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Nigeria – The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)</a></p><p>Democratic Republic of Congo: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2F%3Fs%3DCongo&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=iyiDcEekae0YmKzh7Te%2Fo1CKabbeJuvVbUyDN9TwWeM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank"> The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)</a></p><p>China: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2Ftag%2Fchina%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=BR%2Bgl8hyphPWo7GSJnvVeihn6%2Blcgh%2BYffZzqaDJUro%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">China – The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)<p><p></a>Most recently on 17th November the Bishop of St Albans led a debate in the House of Lords on allegations of human rights abuses in China.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 80704 80706 question first answered 01/12/2022 12:59:27 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1539978

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Religious Freedom: China
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on making an assessment of freedom of religion and belief in China.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	80706
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2022 answer text <p>Bishops and officials of the Church of England regularly engage with Ministers and officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on a range of thematic and geographic concerns regarding freedom of religion or belief, which include the human rights situation in China, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Bishops in the House of Lords regularly raise concerns about the same through questions to Government. Details of these can be seen at:</p><p>Nigeria: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2Ftag%2Fnigeria%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=rDDECckrNM83i%2BCNIOpm%2BMsb4bF7Z6DGRn8AxXchEH0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Nigeria – The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)</a></p><p>Democratic Republic of Congo: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2F%3Fs%3DCongo&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=iyiDcEekae0YmKzh7Te%2Fo1CKabbeJuvVbUyDN9TwWeM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank"> The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)</a></p><p>China: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchurchinparliament.org%2Ftag%2Fchina%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ce6a0002e28664cb9ecf108dac3fcad6e%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638037788155639816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=BR%2Bgl8hyphPWo7GSJnvVeihn6%2Blcgh%2BYffZzqaDJUro%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">China – The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)<p><p></a>Most recently on 17th November the Bishop of St Albans led a debate in the House of Lords on allegations of human rights abuses in China.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 80704 80705 question first answered 01/12/2022 12:59:27 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1537076

registered interest
date	28/10/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Rural Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Commissioners are taking to help ensure rural parishes are supported in providing assistance to parishioners in need.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	73843
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2022 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners intend to distribute £1.2 billion between 2023 and 2025, up 30% from £930 million in the current three-year period, to support the Church’s mission and ministry, including through parishes across England. The core of the extra funding will be channelled into the revitalisation of parish and local ministry and go some way to continue enabling local parishes to serve their communities and the whole nation. The distributions will help fund dioceses’ plans by reaching more young and disadvantaged people, radically cutting the Church’s carbon footprint, and addressing issues of racial justice.</p><p>In addition, during the cost of living crisis, the Church Commissioners have worked with the Archbishops’ Council to provide £15 million for dioceses, both rural and urban, to help churches struggling to pay energy costs. The fund will help churches to remain as centres of worship and pastoral care and will also make a key difference in helping churches to continue opening their buildings for vital practical support for their communities over the winter through social action, such as food banks and warm hubs.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 10/11/2022 22:58:13 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1523343

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Refugees: Ukraine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church of England will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing the use of parish halls free of charge for (a) English classes for Ukrainian refugees and (b) community hubs for rurally based Ukrainians to meet.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	65767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2022 answer text <p>There are a number of such welcome hub initiatives already taking place in church premises. The decision to waive or reduce fees for use of premises is at the discretion of the Parochial Church Council or relevant management committee.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 10/11/2022 12:48:07 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1523344

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Christianity: British Nationals Abroad
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church of England will consider the potential merits of providing ringfenced funding to support Christians to self sustain overseas if they are denied employment due to their belief.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	65768
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2022 answer text <p>No one should be denied employment on grounds of their Christian beliefs save in the most limited and legitimate circumstances, such as under a genuine occupational requirement. The Church of England comprises many different charitable bodies, each of which has its own charitable purposes. Each body would need to consider whether the provision of such support furthered its objects and came within its powers. There is a difference between support for Christians generally and the promotion of the work and mission of the Church of England, which is the purpose of the national Church. For this reason, the national Church has no plans to provide such support.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 09/11/2022 18:29:57 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1523345

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Housing: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church of England will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing accommodation on their land for people aged 55 and over with shared values.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	65769
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2022 answer text <p>The Church of England’s Social Impact Investment Programme has committed £2m towards the second Social and Sustainable Housing Fund [SASH II] managed by Social and Sustainable Capital. SASH II seeks to enable charities and social sector organisations to acquire and own portfolios of property so that they can provide a combination of high quality housing and targeted support to vulnerable people. More information can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/node/45369" target="_blank">Church of England commits £2m to enable charities to purchase housing to support vulnerable people | The Church of England</a></p><p>The Archbishops’ Housing Commission made recommendations to the Church and Government about building new communities and the future use of land. An example is St Bride’s Church in Trafford, which worked with Trafford Housing Trust (THT) to release land that was used to build a new church and the Limelight Centre: 81 extra-care apartments for over 55 year-olds and a new expanded community centre. The full report from the Commission can be found here: <a href="https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/sites/abc/files/2021-02/COE%204794%20%E2%80%93%C2%A0HCC%20Full%20Report%20%E2%80%93%20V6.pdf" target="_blank">Archbishops Housing Commission</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 11/11/2022 16:37:49 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1523346

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church of England will provide funding for disability access improvements to churches in the Strangford constituency where there is a lack of parish funding.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	65770
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2022 answer text <p>As the Strangford constituency is in the Province of Armagh of the Church of Ireland I regret I am unable to assist. The Church of England has recently updated its own guidance, which is available here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Equal_Access_to_Church_Buildings.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/Equal_Access_to_Church_Buildings.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 08/11/2022 16:54:09 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1484633

registered interest
date	29/06/2022
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Christianity: Oppression
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Church Commissioners have had with Christians Against Poverty on protecting Christians from persecution.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	27615
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK-based debt advice charity independent of the Church of England. Staff of the National Church Institutions have held discussions with CAP but these have not been on the protection of Christians from persecution.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 04/07/2022 21:36:05 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1383321

registered interest
date	30/11/2021
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Religious Freedom
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church has made of where persecution of religion and belief is most concerning.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	84358
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2021 answer text <p>Government restrictions on religion or belief have increased globally in recent years as have societal hostilities. Studies undertaken by the Pew Research Centre indicate that the level of religious restrictions is highest in the Middle East-North Africa region, but that some of the biggest increases in religious restrictions over the past decade have occurred in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, while the levels of social hostilities towards religion or belief norms have increase most in the Americas, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 03/12/2021 17:32:23 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon