Questions – Page 2 – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Lincoln asks about tackling child poverty

The Bishop of Lincoln tabled a question on facilitating consultation and collaboration with faith-based and voluntary sector organisations to deliver the Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty strategy on 3rd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to facilitate consultation and collaboration with faith-based and voluntary sector organisations to deliver the Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty strategy, published on 5 December 2025.

Bishop of Manchester asks about draft code of practice on single sex spaces

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the importance of ensuring any draft code of practice on single sex spaces reflect compassion, respect, and kindness as well as legal clarity, during a discussion on the EHRC guidance on single-spaces on 2nd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, perhaps this is a very obvious question to come from a bishop, but these are matters that affect people’s sense of dignity, their identity, belonging and everyday lives. Can the Minister say how the Government are ensuring that, alongside legal clarity, the approach taken in considering this draft code reflects compassion, respect and kindness towards all those affected, so that the guidance not only supports compliance but will encourage a much-needed culture of mutual understanding?

Bishop of Sheffield asks about revised International Education Strategy

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answer on 2nd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 16 September 2025 (UIN HL10060), what plans they have to amend the International Education Strategy; and what the anticipated timeline for the publication of a revised strategy is.

Bishop of Leicester asks about welfare payments

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 30th January 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that cash payments received through the Crisis and Resilience Fund do not lead to a deduction in a person’s Universal Credit payment.

Bishop of Sheffield asks about higher education and asylum

The Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on investment in higher education for asylum seekers and refugees in the UK on 29th January 2026, during a discussion on extending the scope of eligibility for the Erasmus+ scheme:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, I am proud that both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University offer sanctuary scholarships to support talented students who have sought asylum in the UK. Noble Lords will know that many asylum seekers and refugees arrive in the UK already equipped with language skills, vocational training and, indeed, advanced degrees. Given the Government’s intention to introduce an international student levy on English higher education providers, will any of the revenue raised be reinvested in asylum seekers and refugees pursuing higher education or further education in this country?

Bishop of Sheffield asks about combatting flooding and droughts in Yorkshire

The Bishop of Sheffield tabled a question on sustainable water management solutions to address flooding events and protracted droughts in Yorkshire on 28th January 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: To ask His Majesty’s Government what evaluation they have made of sustainable water management solutions to address flooding events and protracted droughts in Yorkshire.

Bishop of Manchester asks about funding for music and drama education

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on support for music and drama heritage in the UK on 28th January 2026, during a discussion on funding of the Music and Dance Scheme for schools to support children from families with lower incomes:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I declare my interest: I might myself have the voice of a frog but I have Chetham’s School of Music, which provides wonderful choristers for my cathedral. Does the Minister agree with me that there seems to be an anomaly? Last week the Government were able to announce significant money over four or five years for the built heritage of this country. However, when it comes to an equally important part of our heritage, our music and drama heritage, we are told that the most we can expect is another year and then, perhaps, later on, something longer. Why can we not have a similar length of settlement for the music and dance schools now as we had for the built heritage last week?

Church Commissioners Written Questions: LGBT+ People

On 27th January 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Church of England: LGBT+ People

Samantha Niblett MP (Lab, South Derbyshire): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment they have made of the potential implications for their policies of the Statement of the House of Bishops on Living in Love and Faith, published in January 2026.

Bishop of Leicester asks about youth employment scheme

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

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government how they will ensure the jobs created for the Youth Guarantee scheme for 18-to-21-year-olds on Universal Credit are genuinely new roles which would not otherwise have been advertised.

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