On 3rd July 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:
Genocide
Adam Jogee MP (Lab, Newcastle-under-Lyme): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church is taking to help support victims of genocide.
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The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on automatic enrolment for free school meals during a discussion on funding for post-16 education and skills on 2nd July 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, one way for schools and colleges to get the funding they need is through the pupil premium, and one way to ensure that they get the pupil premium funding to which they are entitled is through automatic enrolment for free school meals. Can the Minister confirm that local authorities wishing to run automatic enrolment schemes in their area would be acting in line with their duties to support the most disadvantaged children?
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The Bishop of Leicester spoke in a debate on the future affordability and quality of higher education on 2nd July 2026, stressing the need for joined up approaches to encouraging higher and further education:
The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, I too am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, for initiating this debate. It is good to have the opportunity to contribute to thinking about the future affordability and quality of higher education. I do so as the Bishop of Leicester, but also with a close interest in the Cathedrals Group of Universities—14 universities whose distinctive history and mission speak directly to the themes before us: public service, social inclusion and the flourishing of local communities.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leicester takes part in debate on affordability and quality of higher education”The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on the draft Conversion Practices Bill on 1st July 2026, querying whether there had been consultations with religious groups regarding the potential impact of the legislation on pastoral care and prayer:
The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, I welcome the intentions behind the draft Bill. Indeed, in 2017, the General Synod of the Church of England passed a Motion, in fact by a large majority, which called on the Government to outlaw conversion therapy. However, I want to mention today that I have a number of concerns about the drafting of the Bill, and indeed particular concerns about the lack of clarity on the difference between harmful conversion practices and perfectly acceptable practices of pastoral care and indeed prayer, which is much needed for those who are in difficulty. If this difference is not crystal-clear within the legislation, it will potentially have a very significant negative impact on what I believe is legitimate spiritual care offered by faith groups. So, alongside the vital importance of consulting with LGBT+ people, can the Minister tell me what consultations have taken place with religious groups, and is he open to further conversations about how appropriate spiritual care can be guarded within this legislation?
Continue reading “Bishop of Leicester asks about consultations with religious groups on impact of Draft Conversion Practices Bill”The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 1st July 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government what proportion of women being held on remand are remanded for their own protection; and what assessment they have made of the reasons why they are being remanded for their own protection.
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The Bishop of Gloucester tabled a question on efforts to promote women’s representation in peace processes in conflict-affected regions on 30th June 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote women’s representation in peace processes in conflict-affected regions.
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On 29th June 2026, the Bishop of Manchester spoke in a debate on the Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipping) Regulations 2026, commending the regulations and their environmental impact:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Deben, on matters of climate change. The way he spoke with such passion and wisdom is an example of this House at its best.
Climate change presents the greatest collective action problem of our age. Every nation would prefer others to act first, which is why strong climate leadership matters. I found myself challenging the Government for not doing enough earlier this afternoon in Committee of the Financial Services and Markets Bill, so I want to commend these regulations tonight.
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester speaks in debate on new shipping regulations”The Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Bill focused on strengthening adherence to regulatory principles on 29th June 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I, too, support all the amendments in this group, but I will limit my remarks to Amendment 80, to which I have added my name. I note that I appear to be the only man to have signed any of the amendments in this group. I hope that does not mean that climate concern is now becoming divided on gender lines; climate risks are not sex specific. Perhaps I might encourage some other men to rise and support amendments in this group.
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The Archbishop of York asked a question on the role of faith in society and public service media in response to a government statement on the Media Green Paper on 29th June 2026:
The Lord Archbishop of York: My Lords, none of us underestimates how hard it will be to preserve and protect the place of what we must now call public service media in this new world, but I would contend that it is impossible to understand our world at the moment if we do not understand the place of faith in the affairs of the world. It is impossible to understand our own nation’s culture, literature and law without understanding the place of faith; I do not think we can understand ourselves without it. But I notice that, in the Green Paper, there is little or perhaps no mention of the place of faith, which has always been such an important part of the public service broadcasting economy. I wonder whether the Minister would like to mention—I know how difficult it is—what steps are being taken to make sure this is preserved.
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The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on training on religious literacy for adjudicators of asylum claims on 29th June 2026 during a discussion on the possibility of replacing immigration judges with adjudicators:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, picking up on the point about training, can the Minister tell us what support will be available and what training will be offered to the adjudicators around religious literacy? Decisions regarding people’s cases often hinge on claims of religious persecution and involve people who have deeply traumatic pasts. They must, therefore, be well-informed and accurate.
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