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1651547

registered interest
date	10/07/2023
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: Finance
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 ensure transparency and accountability in its financial operations.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	193110
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2023 answer text <p>The Archbishops’ Council and Church Commissioners are accountable to the General Synod where their annual reports and spending plans are debated and reviewed. Additionally the Church Commissioners lay their annual report before Parliament for consideration, copies of which are available in the Library and on the Church of England Website. <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/church-commissioners-for-england-annual-report-2022.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/church-commissioners-for-england-annual-report-2022.pdf</a> As Second Church Estates Commissioner, I answer to the House of Commons for matters that include the operational and financial activities of the National Church Institutions.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 14/07/2023 22:57:40 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1651548

registered interest
date	10/07/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Religion: Education
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 (a) education and (b) the promotion of values-based learning in schools.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	193111
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2023 answer text <p>Church of England Schools provide an education to approximately one million children a day. A quarter of all primary schools, 1,540 academies, 280 Multi Academy Trusts, and 500 independent schools across England have a Church of England ethos.</p><p>The Church of England Foundation for Education Leadership supports teachers, headteachers and senior management teams alongside 22,500 governors to develop the skills they need. More information about the Foundation is available here: <a href="https://www.cefel.org.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.cefel.org.uk/</a></p><p>In each diocese a Diocesan Board of Education supports church schools, which represents an annual investment of over £15 million</p><p>The Church of England vision for education focuses on the development of the common good for the whole community, prioritising the development of four key areas: wisdom, hope, community and dignity. More information about the vision, including detail about how it is lived out in schools, is available here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/vision-education" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/vision-education</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 14/07/2023 23:04:24 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1651549

registered interest
date	10/07/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Repairs and Maintenance
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 (a) preserve and (b) restore (i) historic church buildings and (ii) heritage sites.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	193112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2023 answer text <p>In 2020 the Church of England assessed the volume of work needed in its churches and cathedrals for preservation, repair and maintenance. The pandemic caused a considerable delay in the ability of parish churches and cathedrals to undertake repairs, which has caused a backlog of work. The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the National Church Institutions assists parishes, dioceses and cathedrals in assessing the nature and priorities of the work required and supports them with guidance and advice.</p><p>The work of preservation, repair and maintenance is predominantly undertaken at a local level by thousands of unpaid volunteers, with financial help and support from donors and local grant-making charities.</p><p>By means of an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, the Government has recently agreed to clarify the law on churches being able to access Local Authority grants. This is very welcome and comes in response to many years of advocacy by church, heritage and Local Authority groups. The removal of ambiguity means that Local Authorities and parish councils in England will be able to issue grants to churches that will enable seed funding to repair, restore and upgrade facilities, which will enable churches to continue to serve their local communities as worship spaces, community hubs, and through social action projects.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 14/07/2023 22:58:56 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1651551

registered interest
date	10/07/2023
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: Technology
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 use (a) digital platforms and (b) other technologies to connect with wider audiences.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	193113
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2023 answer text <p>The Church of England, through the work of its central Communications team, has a presence on the majority of social media channels and is producing content for a variety of different audiences and age groups. It has developed a smart speaker app which is useable with ‘Alexa’, provides liturgical resources via the Daily Prayer App, and recorded services to enable people who may not be able to attend a church in person to still participate in worship.</p><p>In the month of May 2023, the most recent for which material is available, Church of England content received 8.6 million impressions and the audience using the materials grew by an additional 4,000 unique users. Nearly three-quarters of a million people engaged with materials developed for the Coronation and the Church of England received 40,000 enquiries from the public via its various social/digital media platforms.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 14/07/2023 22:59:42 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1651552

registered interest
date	10/07/2023
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, what steps the Church is taking to help (a) tackle religious persecution and (b) protect religious freedom.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	193114
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2023 answer text <p>Last month the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, welcomed the UN Security Council’s adoption of a joint UK / UAE Government resolution highlighting threats to Freedom of Religion or Belief. The steps taken by the UK Government followed a review authored by the Bishop at the invitation of the then Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, the implementation of which has since become Government Policy. In a vote, the Security Council adopted the proposal, which will see the UN Secretary General produce an oral report on Freedom of Religion or Belief related threats to international peace and security. The initial deadline is 14th June 2024, with the intention of such a statement becoming an annual event.</p><p>Religious persecution and freedom of religion were on the agenda at the gathering of the global Anglican Communion at the Lambeth Conference in 2022. At the Conference a range of ‘calls’, or priorities for the Church worldwide, were made to tackle these issues. The documents relating to Freedom of Religion and religious persecution can be found under the Inter-Faith, Christian Unity and Human Dignity sections, here: <a href="https://www.lambethconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Lambeth-Calls-English-2023.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.lambethconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Lambeth-Calls-English-2023.pdf</a></p><p>The Church of England remains closely involved with the work of the FCDO in supporting the work of His Majesty’s Ambassadors and diplomats and the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief. More information about the work of the International Panel can be found here: <a href="https://www.ippforb.com/about/" target="_blank">https://www.ippforb.com/about/</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 14/07/2023 23:00:42 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1651573

registered interest
date	10/07/2023
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: Greater Manchester
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, how many Parishes currently have interregnums in the Diocese of Manchester.
tabling member constituency	Bury North
tabling member printed	James Daly
uin	193187
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2023 answer text <p>The appointment of parish priests is a matter for diocesan bishops. The information is not held centrally by the National Church Institutions.</p><p>You may wish to enquire with the Manchester Diocese: <a href="https://www.manchester.anglican.org/about-us/our-staff/" target="_blank">https://www.manchester.anglican.org/about-us/our-staff/</a></p><p>or with the Bishop of Manchester: <a href="https://www.manchester.anglican.org/about-us/bishops/bishopmanchester.php" target="_blank">https://www.manchester.anglican.org/about-us/bishops/bishopmanchester.php</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 14/07/2023 23:01:38 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4854 label Biography information for James Daly

1650996

registered interest
date	06/07/2023
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: Finance
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 the potential merit of separating the funding of upkeep of the material fabric of buildings and of ministers for the cure of souls.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	192874
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>While no specific assessment has been made of separating the upkeep of buildings from the ministers’ cure of souls, the National Church Institutions regularly review the pressure on parishes and clergy in public ministry and are committed to reducing the burdens of administration, operation, and management. The National Church Institutions continue to explore the opportunities to support parishes, and the Church Commissioners have recently launched the £14 million 'Buildings for Mission' fund, which includes funding for Church Building Support Officers and minor fabric repairs. The Church would like to thank the Government for introducing an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to clarify the law around churches being able to receive grant funding from local authorities.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/07/2023 15:16:27 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1650997

registered interest
date	06/07/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: Repairs and Maintenance
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 recent discussions he has had with the Church Commissions on the role of charitable trusts in upkeep of church buildings.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	192875
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>I have not discussed with the Board of the Church Commissioners the role of charitable trusts. The Church Buildings Division of the national Church institutions are available to all parishes, diocese and cathedrals to offer advice and support about grants or maintenance. Parish Resources provides a list of grant funders. Details can be found here: <a href="https://www.parishresources.org.uk/resources-for-treasurers/funding/" target="_blank">https://www.parishresources.org.uk/resources-for-treasurers/funding/</a></p><p>No major heritage funder, such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NHLF), has retained a ring-fenced fund to support the repair and maintain religious buildings and ecclesiastical heritage. However, the NLHF new ten-year strategy will include places of worship alongside other heritage assets.</p><p>The Church of England is therefore grateful to the local philanthropists and charitable trusts, large and small, that support the maintenance of our churches and Cathedrals alongside the support from the congregations. Without their support, our nationally and internationally important church architecture and the living heritage of our parish churches and cathedrals would be at even greater risk.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/07/2023 15:04:26 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1650998

registered interest
date	06/07/2023
answering body	Church Commissioners
answering dept id	9
answering dept short name	Church Commissioners
answering dept sort name	Church Commissioners
hansard heading	Churches: VAT
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 has made representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on VAT relief for the upkeep of (a) newer and (b) all church buildings.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	192876
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The most recent discussions between the National Church Institutions and the Treasury about VAT on building repairs took place in 2021-2022 around the regular review of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.</p><p>Representations were also made in 2022 by the Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the National Church Institutions to the Secretary of State for Brexit Opportunities suggesting that VAT on repair and restoration of religious buildings be zero-rated as part of the review of EU legislation. This request was supported by the Historic Building Alliance and the wider sector. The Brexit Opportunities Department declined to take the suggestion further at the time.</p><p>The Church of England is grateful to the Treasury for continuing the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme while the post-Brexit tax arrangements are bedding in as this gives certainty to churches undertaking repair and building work.</p><p>More information about the scheme can be found here: <a href="https://listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/07/2023 14:54:48 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1650999

registered interest
date	06/07/2023
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
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 stakeholders on involving parishes in discussions over their future.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	192959
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>Parish ministry is central to the day-to-day life of the Church of England. The General Synod, at its July 2023 session, discussed GS 2314 a paper from the Vision and Strategy Department about revitalising parish ministry. You can find the paper here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/gs-2314-revitalising-the-parish.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/gs-2314-revitalising-the-parish.pdf</a><br> <br> Regarding the distribution of the Church Commissioners' funds, it will be for the new Strategic Mission and Ministry Board to decide who and how they consult before making their decisions and advice regarding future investment.</p><p>The latest report from the Strategic Mission and Misntry Board can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/gs-misc-1348-final-version-2022-sib-annual-report-for-synod.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/gs-misc-1348-final-version-2022-sib-annual-report-for-synod.pdf</a></p><p>Information about the foundation of the Board and its purpose can be found here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 25/07/2023 14:53:10 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell