Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
The Bishop of Hereford tabled a question on ensuring that agricultural policies improve the profitability and long-term viability of small farming enterprises on 1st December 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Hereford: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that agricultural policies improve the profitability and long-term viability of small farming enterprises.
Continue reading “Bishop of Hereford tables question on effects of agricultural policy on small farms”On 1st December 2025, the Bishop of Manchester asked a question on support for children orphaned as a result of AIDS, during a discussion marking World AIDS Day 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, one of the most tragic consequences of AIDS remains children who lose both their parents at a very young age and often end up in an orphanage. We were talking in the House just last week about some of the challenges of orphanages. What is the Government’s plan to support children who have been left orphaned as a result of AIDS?
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On 1st December 2025, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:
Church of England: CCTV
Laurence Turner MP (Lab, Birmingham Northfield): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church makes funding available for the installation of CCTV cameras at pastoral buildings that are not churches.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church of England (CCTV)”On 27th November 2025, the Bishop of Leeds tabled a question for short debate on the humanitarian situation in Sudan:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Sudan.
My Lords, I am very grateful to the Government for granting this debate at a very opportune time, with Lady Sandwich in the Gallery and a detailed report, Rivers of Blood, dedicated to the late Lord Sandwich, being delivered this morning to the APPG.
I thank the Minister for her commitment to addressing the urgent and long-term situation in Sudan, a country I love, where I have friends and which I have visited a number of times, most recently in June 2024. My concerns and engagement will continue after I retire from the House this afternoon, albeit in a different way. I note that the Order Paper says this is a valedictory speech, but I would be grateful if we kept our focus on Sudan.
The humanitarian situation in Sudan is so dire that “urgent” does not do justice to the need for action. I will not repeat the many reports from agencies engaged on the ground in Sudan, but they make for harrowing hearing and reading. A number have provided briefings in Parliament in the last few days. We had planned for the Archbishop of Sudan, Ezekiel Kondo, to be here today, but he had to return to Port Sudan a couple of days ago.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds leads debate on the humanitarian situation in Sudan”On 27th November 2025, the Leader of the House of Commons, Sir Alan Campbell MP, gave the following answers to questions from MPs:
National Church Governance Measure
Danny Kruger MP (Reform, East Wiltshire) asked: 2. What guidance the Church Commissioners have received from the Charity Commission on changes proposed under the draft National Church Governance Measure.
Sir Alan Campbell MP (Lab, Tynemouth): I am sorry that the Second Church Estates Commissioner, my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova), is unwell; we wish her a swift recovery. She will be listening, and if my answers fall short, I am sure that she will follow up on them with Members.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Questions: National Church Governance Measure, Identity Sexuality Relationships and Marriage, Support for Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Vicars (Rural Parishes), Solar Power (Churches)”
The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the need to preserve the integrity of Ukraine’s sovereignty on 26th November 2025, following a government statement on the meeting of the coalition of the willing during the G20 and recent discussions on peace plans:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, one of the principles that we apply in many debates is that we should not talk about people without them being present. Can the Minister confirm that we will continue to resist the carve-up of an independent country by two major powers? That means that we have to put pressure on the United States to see this not just as an object of interest but as something that has to involve the Ukrainians at every step.
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The Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on encouraging the use of covenants and charters to promote engagement and cooperation between faith communities and local authorities, during a discussion on use of the “advancement of religion” charitable purpose by charities on 26th November 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, just two weeks ago, Sheffield City Council launched its faith and belief charter—a sort of service-level agreement between local faith communities and the local authority setting out what each might expect of the other for the wider benefit of our city. The charter assumes a shared commitment to the essential dignity of every human being, as created in the image and likeness of God. Will the Minister encourage the use of such covenants and charters between faith communities and local authorities, not least on account of their capacity to challenge precisely the behaviours identified in the Question put by the noble Baroness?
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The Bishop of Winchester asked a question about the role of denial of freedom of religion as a driver of migration on 25th November 2025, in response to a government statement on changes to the migration settlement pathway :
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, I will keep my question brief because I want to give time to the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett. One of the most encouraging developments in foreign policy in this country in recent years has been the growing recognition of the evil of the denial of freedom of religion or belief across the world, leading to widespread persecution of faith communities, Christians not least among them, as we have tragically seen in these last days in Nigeria. The UK has become a recognised global leader in advocacy for this oft-overlooked right.
Does the Minister accept that denial of freedom of religion or belief is a significant driver of migration? It is certainly so in the case of a significant number who arrive illegally, who, according to the Statement,
“could see settlement take up to 30 years”.
Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about role of freedom of religion in migration”
The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on UK response to potential acts of war by Russia, following a government statement on the Russian spy ship Yantar on 25th November 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, it is clear that that message is conveyed, but it seems to do nothing to deter the Russians from continuing with their activity. Can the Minister say whether our military leaders have come to any conclusions about what an appropriate response will be to what, in the end, could be an act of war?
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about response to Russian espionage”The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on UK government efforts to hold Serbia to account in the public arena during a discussion on democratic resilience in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 25th November 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, it is perhaps salutary to remember that the GDR lasted for only 40 years, that the 30 years since the Dayton accords is not a very long time, and that what can be built up over a period of time can be demolished very quickly. Can the Minister say what the UK Government are doing to hold particularly Serbia to account in the public arena, exposing what is going on and what its influences are—from Russia in particular but not from Russia alone?
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about resilience of democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina”
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