Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Southwark asks about community resilience planning

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on inclusion of religious groups in planning for Local Resilience Forums on 16th April 2026:  

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, guidance on emergency preparedness issued under the Civil Contingencies Act to the emergency responders who make up local resilience forums includes reference in chapter 14 to use of the voluntary sector. This is often assumed to be where the service provided is wholly or largely relevant to an emergency, such as that offered by Mountain Rescue, Samaritans or the Salvation Army. However, I notice that one local authority listed as an example of best practice includes the use of religious groups, presumably because of buildings and other services that they can provide. Might the Minister consider whether this warrants a discreet but distinct reference in a revision of the guidance?

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Church Commissioners Questions: Christians in Palestine, Children and Young People, Project Spire, Extremism, Child Poverty, Places of Worship Renewal Fund, Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, Archbishop of Canterbury, Small Churches

In the House of Commons, Marsha De Cordova MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, gave answers to the following questions from MPs on 16th April 2026:

Christians in Palestine

Kate Osamor MP (Lab, Edmonton & Winchmore Hill) asked: 1. What steps the Church of England is taking to support Christians in Palestine.

Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): The Church remains steadfast in its support for Palestinians. The Bishops of Southwark, Gloucester, Chelmsford and Norwich have publicly highlighted their concerns by condemning the increased settler violence and calling for the reopening of holy places. They have joined His Holiness the Pope and the local heads of Churches, who have called for the protection of innocent civilians. They are offering sanctuary, working for peace and reconciliation, and building intercommunity trust.

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Bishop of Southwark asks about political situation in Zimbabwe

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the reaction of neighbouring states to changes to the Zimbabwean constitution that would allow the current President to stand for a third term in office on 15th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, as I have said on previous occasions, my diocese of Southwark is linked with four of the five Anglican dioceses in Zimbabwe, and I have visited our link dioceses on many occasions. I note that the Zimbabwe Council of Churches has called this week for the withdrawal or amendment of the Bill currently before the Zimbabwean parliament. Would the Minister advise the House what the reaction has been of neighbouring states to this latest development in the governance of Zimbabwe and its wonderful people, so poorly served by those currently in power?

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Bishop of Southwark asks about sovereignty of the Chagos Islands

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands on 14th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I fully understand the sensitivities of the status of the islands in the light of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, but will the Minister confirm that such an opinion does not have the force of law? I impress on the Minister that the view from these Benches is to give priority for consultations to Chagos Islanders and their descendants, for the very important preservation of the current marine protected reserve and to begin a fresh approach to a new settlement for the British Indian Ocean Territory.

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Bishop of Southwark asks about conflict in the Middle East

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the need for diplomacy to resolve the conflict in the Middle East, following a government statement on recent events and the implications for UK security on 14th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for coming to the House to answer questions on the Statement on the Middle East and to the Prime Minister for his diplomatic efforts in the Gulf. From these Benches, we believe that the initiation of this conflict, the attacks by Iran on its neighbours and the closure of the straits are unjustified. I know from my recent conversation with the Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf that the peoples of the nine nations in the diocese dearly want peace from the threat and the reality of war. I agree with the Minister that the focus now needs to be desperately on de-escalation.

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Bishop of Chelmsford asks about current conflict in Iran

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 13th April 2026:

The Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States about risks to Iran’s territorial integrity of arming separatist groups in Iran.

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Bishop of Leicester asks about immigration status of care leavers

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 13th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government how many care leavers did not have their immigration status resolved before reaching the age of 18 in each of the last five years.

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Bishop of Leicester asks about report on intra-community violence in Leicester

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 13th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the 2022 Leicester violence, Better Together: Understanding the 2022 Violence in Leicester, published on 23 February.

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Bishop of Lincoln asks about appointment of social responsibility minister

The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 27th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln asked His Majesty’s Government whether they plan for the Minister for Skills to take a lead responsibility for social mobility.

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Bishop of Leicester asks about English language education

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 27th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 3 March (HL14602), what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the funding for English for speakers of other language programmes to meet demand.

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