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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

1250482

registered interest
date	10/11/2020
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 hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the effect of churches on community health and wellbeing through their provision of food banks, youth services, mental health services, addiction support services and other community services during the covid-19 outbreak and associated lockdowns.
tabling member constituency	Bolton West
tabling member printed	Chris Green
uin	113564
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2020 answer text <p>The parish church is a key source of community support and I commend the work of clergy and volunteers across the country during this very challenging time.</p><p>Recent research published by Theos and the Church Urban Fund <a href="https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/cmsfiles/GRACE-CUF-v10-combined.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/cmsfiles/GRACE-CUF-v10-combined.pdf</a> and separately by the National Churches Trust <a href="https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/" target="_blank">https://www.houseofgood.nationalchurchestrust.org/</a> has shown the substantial social and economic contribution parishes, and cathedrals make to their local communities.</p><p>Across the dioceses of the Church of England churches are operating 35,000 based projects which serve the needs of their communities, I am pleased to say that many of these have continued to operate during the pandemic within the guidelines set out by Government on Covid-19, providing crisis support such as foodbanks, bereavement counselling, night shelters, debt relief advice, as well as project work to combat modern slavery and support victim of domestic abuse.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 17/11/2020 15:04:02 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4398 label Biography information for Chris Green

1232233

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
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 progress the Church of England is making on reopening (a) churches and (b) cathedrals for (i) worship, (ii) weddings and (Iii) other ceremonies.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	86659
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>Worship, weddings, christenings and funerals in COVID-secure church buildings where appropriate social distancing can be achieved, remain permitted and are unaffected by the most recent Government announcement. The Church of England's most up to date guidance on COVID can be seen here: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches</a></p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 14/09/2020 16:17:41 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous previous answer version 46290 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

1220927

registered interest
date	06/07/2020
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 the timescale is for allowing churches to resume choir singing; and what guidance will be published for churches on resuming choir singing safely during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Bell Ribeiro-Addy
uin	69712
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2020 answer text <p>The timescale for allowing churches to resume choral singing is a matter for Public Health England and the Government. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government published updated guidance on the 9<sup>th</sup> July, which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 10/07/2020 17:43:20 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous previous answer version 36022 answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4764 label Biography information for Bell Ribeiro-Addy

1217932

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
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 steps the Church of England has taken to provide financial support to single parish churches to avoid the redundancy, salary review and staff restructuring of employed musicians.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Bell Ribeiro-Addy
uin	65019
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>In March, the Church Commissioners and Archbishops’ Council announced over £75m of liquidity support to dioceses and cathedrals. This money included allowing dioceses in financial need to access up to three months forbearance on sums required for the national clergy payroll [or clergy stipends] for a limited period and paying monthly grants in full for 2020. In May the National Church Institutions announced a diocesan grant scheme supported by the Church Commissioners, which totalled up to £35m of sustainability funding.</p><p> </p><p>The Church Commissioners are unable to make grants directly to Parochial Church Councils and parish churches. Parishes employ staff such as musicians, assistants, and lay workers in a variety of ways. Where the Parochial Church Council directly employs an individual, the individual would have been eligible to be placed on furlough under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 29/06/2020 15:33:57 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4764 label Biography information for Bell Ribeiro-Addy

1217933

registered interest
date	25/06/2020
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 steps the Church of England is taking to ensure that church musicians and choirs can safely resume their work as soon as possible under Government guidelines; and what assessment the Church has made of the implications for its policies of medical evidence on the transmission risk of choirs and congregations in church settings.
tabling member constituency	Streatham
tabling member printed	Bell Ribeiro-Addy
uin	65020
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2020 answer text <p>The Church of England is working with the Government and Public Health England to restore choirs and singing to services as soon as it is safe to do so. There has been limited research available for Public Health England to use to make an informed assessment about the safety of singing, and the choir of Salisbury Cathedral is currently participating in a study organised by Public Health England to enable it to make these decisions in an informed manner. We await further guidance from the Government and Public Health England once these trials have been concluded.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 29/06/2020 15:31:38 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4764 label Biography information for Bell Ribeiro-Addy

1199503

registered interest
date	02/06/2020
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 steps he is taking to ensure that places of worship can open for (a) private prayer and (b) active worship in compliance with social distancing measures as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are lifted.
tabling member constituency	Bosworth
tabling member printed	Dr Luke Evans
uin	53638
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced that from the 15<sup>th</sup> June Church of England places of worship may be opened for individual prayer, alongside those of other faiths.</p><p>The Church of England has been developing advice, following information from Public Health England and other bodies, to enable its churches to be opened safely, and has been communicating that to dioceses for planning purposes. Not all buildings will be able to open for individual prayer on the 15<sup>th</sup> June, and bishops will be discussing with local clergy the needs of each parish. We expect a phased reopening that takes into account local circumstances and the available resources to enable it to be done safely.</p><p>The House of Bishops will be issuing revised advice once the Government has published its own guidance, further to the statement made by Lord Greenhalgh on Saturday 6<sup>th</sup> June.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 09/06/2020 17:13:07 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4781 label Biography information for Dr Luke Evans

1196972

registered interest
date	19/05/2020
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 hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Commissioners' timetable is for enabling churches to reopen safely for funeral services after the covid-19 lockdown.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	902797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners do not have responsibility for setting a timetable for the reopening of church buildings for funeral services. Current guidance from the House of Bishops is not to conduct funeral services in church buildings because of widely expressed concerns about parishes having capacity to conduct such funerals safely, including being able to clean churches thoroughly between services to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus. This is guidance, not instruction.</p><p> </p><p>We are acutely aware of the anguish of those not able to have or attend a funeral in their parish church in the current circumstances. Where it is requested a priest will be present to conduct a funeral service, either at a crematorium or at the churchyard. The House of Bishops meets regularly to review its guidance which will be updated in line with changing circumstances, and published on the Church of England website.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 19/05/2020 17:05:20 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1196973

registered interest
date	19/05/2020
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 hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Commissioners' timetable is for churches to reopen for baptisms, weddings and funerals following the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	902798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>The Church Commissioners do not have responsibility for setting a timetable for the reopening of church buildings for funeral services. Baptisms and weddings cannot at present be celebrated inside church buildings, and the relevant Cabinet Office and MHCLG guidance can be seen here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance#contents" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance#contents</a></p><p>Current guidance from the House of Bishops is not to conduct funeral services in church buildings because of widely expressed concerns about parishes having capacity to conduct such funerals safely, including being able to clean churches thoroughly between services to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus. This is guidance, not instruction. We are acutely aware of the anguish of those not able to celebrate significant life events such as baptisms, weddings and funerals in their parish church in the current circumstances. The House of Bishops meets regularly to review its guidance which will be updated in line with changing circumstances, and published on the Church of England website.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 19/05/2020 17:06:18 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1196974

registered interest
date	19/05/2020
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 hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the potential effect on public health of reopening churches.
tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
tabling member printed	Tracey Crouch
uin	902801
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>The House of Bishops meets regularly to review its own guidance to clergy in light of Government and public health advice.</p><p>On 5th May the House of Bishops issued new guidance, which can be seen at: <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/house-bishops-backs-phased-approach-revising-access-church-buildings" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/news/house-bishops-backs-phased-approach-revising-access-church-buildings</a></p><p>While church buildings remain closed for public worship in line with Government advice, the Bishops agreed in principle to a phased approach to lifting restrictions, in time and in parallel with the Government's approach, with three broad stages. The first, effective immediately, allows clergy limited access to church buildings for activities such as streaming of services or private prayer, so long as the necessary hygiene and social distancing precautions are taken; the decision being made by individual clergy after discussion with their diocesan bishop. The second and third will see access for some rites and ceremonies, and for worship services with limited congregations meeting, when Government restrictions are eased to allow it.</p><p>Senior staff of the National Church Institutions have joined two of the Government’s ‘unlocking’ work streams, within the Department for Culture Media and Sport and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 19/05/2020 17:08:02 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch