Questions – The Church of England in Parliament

Church Commissioners Questions: Christians in Palestine, Churches: Financial Viability, Persecution of Christians Overseas, Lighthouse Summer Holiday Programme, Family Hubs and Community Cohesion, Christian Nationalism, Community Cohesion, Project Spire, Places of Worship Renewal Fund

On 3rd September 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following answers to questions from MPs:

Christians in Palestine

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

Marsha De Cordova MP: The Church condemns the persecution that we have seen and stands in solidarity with Palestinian Christian communities across the Holy Land as they continue to face profound hardship. The Church of England remains committed to supporting our Anglican partners, advocating for human rights and calling for the upholding of international humanitarian law and a just and lasting peace for the Palestinians.

Bishop of Leicester asks about civic participation in elections

The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on government efforts to enable civic participation during a discussion on electoral systems and methods of voter registration on 3rd September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, democracy is of course about a lot more than simply voter participation. What are the Government currently doing to enable civic participation at this time, particularly by minoritised groups, which will aid in safeguarding our democracy?

Bishop of Norwich asks about tackling the climate crisis

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on rebuilding consensus on the urgent need to address the climate crisis in response to the Prime Minister’s statement on the direction of government on 2nd September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: These Benches wish the Prime Minister well and assure him of our prayers. I welcome his attendance at COP 31 in Turkey in a couple of months’ time and that he recognises the impact of climate change—he referenced the glacial collapse at the Nepal-China border with tragic loss of life and this being the hottest summer on record. How can the Government work to rebuild the cross-party consensus that there was just a few years ago about the urgent need to take action for the common good for those who share this single island planet home, both now and in the future?

Bishop of Norwich asks about environmental impact of data centres

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on the effectiveness of DEFRA’s current regulatory framework to provide protection for the environment from the demands of data centres on water resources on 2nd September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, can the Minister tell us what assessment Defra has made of the current regulatory framework and whether it will provide enough protection for the environment from the cumulative demand of data centres on water resources?

Bishop of Manchester asks about cost of living impacts for benefits recipients

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on changes to the universal credit system during a discussion on welfare reform on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I am glad to hear that the Minister is so passionate about this and that, overall, this is taking place. As part of that, however, the Trussell Trust tells me that the majority of people who go to food banks are already on universal credit. Are the Government going to look at what it actually costs to survive in this country so that that can be factored into what levels of universal credit people are going to be getting?

Bishop of Southwark asks about Israeli activities in the West Bank

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with the government of Israel regarding the threat made by the Israeli Minister of Finance to take control of Solomon’s Pools in Area A of the West Bank.

Bishop of Sheffield asks about immigration and asylum legislation and policy

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answers on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to implement the recommendation of the recent report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration to introduce a Senior Civil Servant quality lead to spearhead the re-establishment of the quality agenda in the training and mentorship of asylum caseworkers.

Bishop of Peterborough asks about closure of youth centres

The Bishop of Peterborough received the following written answer on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Peterborough asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of youth club closures on levels of anti-social behaviour and youth offending in England.

Baroness Twycross (Lab, DCMS): DCMS published research in 2024 that found decreased investment in youth provision correlates with rises in shoplifting, bike theft, and reoffending among young offenders aged 15-17.

Bishop of Chelmsford asks about international commitments on refugees

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:

what steps they are taking to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
what resources they are providing UNHCR to (1) support refugees, displaced and stateless peoples, and (2) renew international commitments to refugee protection.

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