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1176001

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2020
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Youth Centres
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the right hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate the Church of England has made of the number of church-based youth clubs; and what assessment he has made of effect of those clubs on the wellbeing of the young people that use them.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	12268
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2020 answer text <p>The Church of England employs 2,670 children and youth workers in its parishes, and there are 80,000 volunteers across the church who are engaged in projects supporting children and young people. Projects can range from holiday clubs, messy church, sports ministry and creative play.</p><p>The Church of England commissioned a research project assessing how best to approach building confidence, engagement and belonging, creating a supportive and inclusive environment in 2016 which has formed the basis of its approach. The report can be read here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2017-11%2FRooted%2520in%2520the%2520Church%2520Summary%2520Report.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7Csimon.stanley%40churchofengland.org%7Caedf6ae675af4733dd0708d7ab1b6383%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C1%7C637166006451445255&amp;sdata=XgFI5KrYgz5a79R4T0td9p%2FTpLQ5gHlAVC1i0RrVA%2FQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-11/Rooted%20in%20the%20Church%20Summary%20Report.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 06/02/2020 15:58:55 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1567949

	registered interest
	date	18/01/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
	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 he will hold discussions with senior church leaders on encouraging church leaders to hold celebrations to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	126648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2023 answer text <p>Churches across the country will be organising events to celebrate the coronation. Many will mark the occasion by ringing a special peal of bells and encouraging new ringers to help. The Central Council of Bell Ringers is able to provide advice and support to towers of ringers who want to join in and ‘Ring for the King’: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fringfortheking.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ca7cd01072724498924b108db03ab02b2%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638107805241084184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=OXn4xlCDvlfCXDidjhW57RIOiIWVIMQ1roGMrvNAapk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Ring for the King – Ringing for the King’s Coronation</a></p><p>The Royal School of Church Music are also encouraging choirs to join their ‘Sing for the King’ project. More information is available for directors of music, organists and clergy from the RSCM here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rscm.org.uk%2Fsing-for-the-king%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7Ca7cd01072724498924b108db03ab02b2%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638107805241084184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2FJYRuK6VncGKRVezI00FKtdRNcSQybdOjtbN6%2Bnj7Is%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Sing for the King! | RSCM</a></p><p>Buckingham Palace has announced a series of events and festivities over several days, in which churches and community groups will take part. Many parishes are likely to be hosting a service of thanksgiving, alongside participating in the ‘Big Help Out’, and other local celebrations. Guidance and resources will be sent to all dioceses and parishes in the coming weeks.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 31/01/2023 17:48:15 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1579490

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2023
	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 discussions he has had with relevant funding bodies on funding for smaller churches, including those in rural villages.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	129780
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2023 answer text <p>Officials from the National Church Institutions are seeking a meeting with the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to discuss the 2017 independent Taylor report on the sustainability of Church Buildings. Despite being commissioned by the Government, the Government has yet to respond.</p><p>The Church Commissioners are providing £11million in funding for 2023-25 to support a new “Buildings for Mission” programme to provide support, through dioceses, to local parishes with the challenges they face in maintaining their church buildings.</p><p>National grant funding is no longer ring-fenced for religious buildings despite the largest number of listed buildings in the country being from that classification. While grant funding is also available from national and local charities, this can only go so far. The Church of England is grateful to the great many congregations and local philanthropists who continue, despite current financial difficulties, to support the work of the Church.</p><p>Recent reports from the National Churches Trust have shown that every £1 invested in a church building returns £16 to the community in other services and facilities. If the Church can spend less time on repairing buildings, an even greater focus could be given to supporting the communities it serves. The evidence for this can be found in the 2021 House of Good report, available at: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalchurchestrust.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FGADS1597%2520%25E2%2580%2593%2520NCT%2520House%2520of%2520Good%25202021%2520V7%2520SINGLE-PAGES.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C552d0047f19347a2cec208daffc427fe%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638103516281887456%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=0ILjNDfV%2FcwAc%2FlvI5qVt001QAPNL1wA9aDaMGcdfHM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">House of Good 2021</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 31/01/2023 16:37:57 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1579825

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2023
	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, whether the Church is taking steps to promote freedom of religion and belief in (a) Hong Kong and (b) globally.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	129832
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2023 answer text <p>Freedom of Religion and Belief was discussed at the 2022 Lambeth Conference of global Anglican bishops, where many first-hand accounts of the context in different countries were shared. <br> <br> Bishops and officials of the National Church Institutions are working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative, to equip civil servants, Government ministers, bishops and churches to respond effectively as possible to violations of freedom of religion, and in follow up to the Bishop of Truro’s report.</p><p>Freedom of religion was one of the founding principles of Hong Kong, which has led to a high diversity of faith communities and of those with no faith. The Church of England remains concerned about the treatment of these communities and is monitoring the situation closely.</p><p>The Church remains involved in providing welcome and support to those arriving here from Hong Kong under the British National Overseas passport scheme. One local example from Leeds diocese can be seen here: <a href="https://www.leeds.anglican.org/news/hong-kong-arrivals-welcomed-and-baptised-leeds-church" target="_blank">https://www.leeds.anglican.org/news/hong-kong-arrivals-welcomed-and-baptised-leeds-church</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 31/01/2023 16:35:55 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1331175

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2021
	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: Land
	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 church is taking to support regenerative agriculture, plant more trees and be good stewards of hedgerows on its land.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	13059
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2021 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners work with their tenants to support the good stewardship of their land and are currently undertaking a natural capital assessment of its estate. The majority of our agricultural land is tenanted, and the Commissioners new farm business tenancies strongly encourage good environmental practice such as ensuring watercourses are kept clear, hedgerows are well maintained, and topsoil is preserved.</p><p>The Church Commissioners direct landholdings currently total 184,700 acres as of the end of December 2020. 92,000 acres were in our Rural Portfolio, including land allocated for strategic development and 92,700 acres in our Timberland Portfolio. 120,500 acres (65%) of the Commissioners total land holding are in the UK, with the rest held across the globe. More detail can be found in the latest annual report, which is available here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2021-06%2FChurch%2520Commissioners%2520Annual%2520Report%25202020.pdf&amp;data=04%7C01%7Csimon.stanley%40churchofengland.org%7Ca1b74c9392014f7f0b7f08d93183a0cd%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C637595264120014816%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=s37MxF9%2BYskgy%2Fay216jWHMXCRuO5c8OFd5EOpUlxbo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/Church%20Commissioners%20Annual%20Report%202020.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 17/06/2021 11:36:10 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1687728

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2024
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Security
	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 funds the Commissioners allocate to churches for (a) cameras, (b) alarms and (c) other security equipment.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	13262
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>All churches are eligible to apply for the Home Office hate crime scheme if they need support with new or upgrading equipment or facilities. <br> The <a href="https://benefacttrust.co.uk/" target="_blank">Benefact Trust</a> has funded alarms for churches. More details are available on the Church of England website about how to support parishes with resources and advice: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/security-and-crime-prevention" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings/security-and-crime-prevention</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 08/02/2024 17:58:37 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1584309

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2023
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Festivals and Special Occasions
	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 Church is taking to support parish churches in holding events for (a) families and (b) other individuals.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	140147
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2023 answer text <p>A vibrant children’s and youth ministry is often a key component of church growth and creates intergenerational support for new parents and caregivers from experienced parents, grandparents and youth workers. Most Church of England parishes provide activities to engage with families and young people. Examples include breakfast, lunch and holiday clubs, youth clubs, messy church and events in partnership with local authorities, other churches and faith communities. Most dioceses have specialist children, youth or families advisers. More information and resources can be found on the Church of England website here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fabout%2Fchildren-and-young-people%2Four-work-children-and-young-people&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C38c365b3cc9946db7f6b08db0df14761%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638119102153110797%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=N%2BmbjAc6UsTc0C5j5O74A2L8X%2BRsc7JYcLR7e3ycvz4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Our work with children and young people | The Church of England</a></p><p>The Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households will soon be publishing a report looking at the role of the family in today’s society. Details of the Commission are here: <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofengland.org%2Fabout%2Farchbishops-commissions%2Ffamilies-and-households-commission&amp;data=05%7C01%7Crichard.chapman%40churchofengland.org%7C38c365b3cc9946db7f6b08db0df14761%7C95e2463b3ab047b49ac1587c77ee84f0%7C0%7C0%7C638119102153110797%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kEHHjqOzGZDpJYym6PLIrXFP3ExNcc8xSZXK0QFvzP8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Families and Households Commission | The Church of England</a> .</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 14/02/2023 17:48:31 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1585226

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2023
	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: Food Banks
	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 he will hold discussions with the Church of England on taking steps to help increase foodbank donations.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	142703
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2023 answer text <p>A debate about the pressures on the cost of living was held in the General Synod at its February 2023 sessions. Renewed calls and commitments were made there to provide continuing support for the most vulnerable, through parish-based local community partnerships with charities and food bank providers</p><p><br>The Trussell Trust report that their network of food banks receives a significant proportion of their donations from churches and despite a fall during the pandemic when church congregations were not meeting, donations have increased again over the last year, despite the increasing costs that churches and congregants face themselves. <br> <br>Ensuring that donations keep match with demand is crucial for helping food banks to support everyone who needs them, though decreasing overall demand in the longer term is a shared goal of the Church, providers and Government</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 01/03/2023 11:02:15 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1281948

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2021
	answering body	Church Commissioners
	answering dept id	9
	answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
	answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
	hansard heading	Churches: Coronavirus
	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 additional support has been provided to (a) clergy and (b) churches to help people attend church (i) in person or (ii) online during lockdown.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	145792
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2021 answer text <p>Since the first lockdown, the Church Commissioners’ Cathedrals Sustainability Fund has enabled many cathedrals to improve their digital output, including live streaming of services. <br> <br> There were nearly 36 million viewings of the Church’s Christmas “Comfort and Joy” series. For those who prefer the telephone, the Daily Hope worship line has received 350,000 free calls.</p><p>The National Church Institutions have now offered digital training to over 7,000 people, equipping them with practical skills in streaming services on a variety of different platforms. The national Sunday Service has been watched on 2.5 million individual devices, and many parishes and cathedrals are now live streaming regular daily services to their local communities.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/02/2021 15:04:43 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous previous answer version 80612 answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1281949

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2021
	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 steps the church is taking prevent the persecution of believers of all faiths.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	145793
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2021 answer text <p>The Church speaks up on behalf of all those who are unable to exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief.</p><p>The Church of England is part of an international consortium that has just received £5.6 million from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to equip parliamentarians and religious leaders in eight countries in Africa and Asia to meet these challenges. As part of the new project, the Church of England and other consortium members will be helping parliamentarians and religious leaders with technical assistance and other expertise they need to propose solutions to such terrible human rights abuses in their own countries</p><p><br> The Church of England is continuing to engage with the International Panel for Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion and Belief. More information about that work is available here: <a href="https://www.ippforb.com/" target="_blank">https://www.ippforb.com/</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 12/02/2021 15:03:24 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous previous answer version 80613 answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon