Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Archbishop of York raises potential adverse impact on vulnerable groups

The Archbishop of York asked a question during a debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, querying the impact the bill would have on coercion of vulnerable people, particularly those struggling to access palliative care, on 27th February 2026:

The Lord Archbishop of York: I entirely accept that those who are proposing the Bill do not propose it for the reason of trying to save money. I also entirely accept the desire from everyone in this House for better-funded palliative care. However, I need something to be explained. Taken that palliative care is inadequate and underfunded, and taken that there are huge regional variations, what I do not understand is the noble and learned Lord’s confidence that this will not lead to coercion of vulnerable people in places where palliative care is not available and cannot be afforded, which will lead to unintended consequences. I entirely accept that he does not want those consequences either, but I ask him to give me some confidence, if he can, that this will not follow.

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Church Commissioners Questions: Deprived Communities, Church Attendance, Christian Communities in Palestine, Historical Forced Adoptions, Sudan Conflict

On 26th February 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following answers to MPs in the House of Commons:

Jessica Toale MP (Lab, Bournemouth West) asked: 2. What steps the Church of England is taking to support deprived communities. 

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Bishop of Norwich asks about energy transition plans for businesses

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 26th February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards mandating UK-regulated financial institutions and FTSE 100 companies to implement transition plans aligned with the Paris Agreement; and what timetable they intend to set for introducing such requirements.

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Bishop of Leicester asks about improving citizenship application process

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 26th February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce processing times and improve communication with applicants for British citizenship.

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Bishop of Oxford asks about ensuring value of humanity in the world of work

The Bishop of Oxford asked a question on ensuring humanity is centred within the world of work during a discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence on the labour market on 25th February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I welcome the new institute, the announcement and the individuals involved. I want to ask a question about the values that the Government will take forward in thinking about this area. What practical steps are they taking to ensure that humanity is at the centre of people’s experience of work, that we are not working for algorithms, and that work is at the centre of humanity and society?

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Bishop of Leicester asks about universal credit sanction rates

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 25th February 2026:

The Bishop of Leicester: To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 3 February (HL13743), what assessment they have made of the reasons that Universal Credit sanction rates vary by (1) ethnicity, and (2) region.

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Bishop of Manchester asks about investment in educational transition points

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on encouraging healthy management of educational transitions for children on 24 February 2026, following a government statement on the schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I declare an interest in that my diocese has more than 190 Church schools and we educate around 60,000 children, in the total roll across them. The Church of England has already officially welcomed the White Paper and these Benches echo that this evening.

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Votes: Tobacco and Vapes Bill

On 24th February 2026, the House of Lords debated the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

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Bishop of Chester asks about investment in vocational partnerships and education

The Bishop of Chester asked a question on investment in vocational partnerships in prisons during a discussion on prison education on 24th February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chester: I was encouraged by the Minister’s previous comments. I was going to ask about vocational education and whether the impact of that is being measured. Clearly, all education matters. At a recent visit to HMP Styal, I was particularly impressed by the work of The Clink, which sadly has shut after 10 years. How can the Government invest better in partnerships in that vocational sphere?

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church of England Redress Scheme

On 24th February 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Church of England

Julia Buckley MP (Lab, Shrewsbury): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, when the Church will be opening the Church of England Redress Scheme to applications.

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