Questions – Page 18 – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Norwich asks about support for Road Victims Trust

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on support for Road Victims Trust, a charity supporting families affected by drink-drivers and drug-drivers on 22nd October 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, the Road Victims Trust does very important work in supporting those families that are affected by drink-drivers and drug-drivers. It is a charity that relies mostly on public donations. What could the Minister do to encourage police and crime commissioners to support the work of the Road Victims Trust through their grant-making?

Votes: Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill

On 21st October 2025, the House of Lords debated the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which bishops took part:

Bishop of Newcastle asks about regional transportation

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question about investment in regional transport in the UK on 21st October 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, in the north-east we rejoice at the success of the reinstated Northumberland line, linking Ashington to Newcastle, which has seen over 700,000 journeys since the line was reopened last December. However, the route struggles with a lack of carriages, and the company would like to put more trains on. Can I ask the Minister whether the strategy will seek to prioritise regions in our country which have traditionally been underinvested in, so as to fast-forward the economic growth the Government so desire?

Bishop of Leicester asks about universal credit review

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 21st October 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 22 July (HL9231), when their review on Universal Credit will be published.

Bishop of Oxford asks about ethics in neurotechnology

The Bishop of Oxford received the following written answer on 20th October 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford asked His Majesty’s Government whether they will work with international partners to ensure that the proposed Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization upholds (1) international human rights standards, including safeguards for equity, mental integrity and privacy, (2) the precautionary principle, and (3) protections for children and other vulnerable groups.

Bishop of Leicester asks about publication of the government’s child poverty strategy

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 20th October 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish the child poverty strategy.

Bishop of Sheffield asks about provision of medical supplies in Gaza

The Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on the need to ensure financial support and medical supplies reach the Anglican Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on 16th October 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, from these Benches, I join others in expressing deep appreciation and thanks to the Lord Speaker for his service to this House and assure him of our continued support in the coming months. Noble Lords may be aware that efforts are under way to rebuild the Al-Ahli hospital, managed by the Anglican diocese of Jerusalem. It remains the only hospital in operation in the north of Gaza, but most of its buildings are in ruins following multiple airstrikes earlier this year. Hospital staff have remained in place throughout the conflict. They are now in urgent need of medical supplies to continue to deliver life-saving treatment. I ask the Minister to bring her influence urgently to bear to ensure that financial support and medical supplies reach the hospital so that it can continue to serve the people of north Gaza.

Church Commissioners Written Questions: Christianity in Palestine, Child Protection, Poverty

On 16th October 2025, the Second Church Estates Commissioners, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Christianity: Palestine

Richard Baker MP (Lab, Glenrothes and Mid Fife): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what support the Church of England is providing to Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Church Commissioners Questions: Persecuted Christians, Supporting Freedom of Religion and Belief Abroad, Small Churches in Rural Constituencies, Community Relations, Archbishop of Canterbury

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

Persecuted Christians

Brian Mathew MP (LD, Melksham and Devizes) asked: 1. What steps the Church of England is taking to help support persecuted Christians in other countries.

Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): The Church of England supports efforts to defend international religious freedoms for Christians or whichever religious group faces persecution. The Church has created parliamentary caucuses involving religious leaders in east and west Africa, and in south-east Asia to support legislation to protect religious freedoms.

Bishop of Lichfield asks about interfaith work in government following attack on Manchester synagogue

On 15th October 2025, the The Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on interfaith work in government following a statement on the recent attack on a synagogue in Manchester:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, my prayers are with the victims, their families and all our Jewish communities following this appalling attack. It is shocking that the ancient evil of antisemitism is currently resurgent in our society. We must remain vigilant against it and all forms of religious hatred. No one in this country should ever feel unsafe because of their faith, and particularly not unsafe in their place of worship.

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