Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church of England – Slavery

On 17th June 2025, Marsha De Cordova MP, on behalf of the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Church of England: Slavery

Katie Lam MP (Con, Weald of Kent): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 47116 on Church of England: Slavery, when the Church Commissioners plan to submit an application to authorise an ex-gratia payment for Project Spire under section 106 of the Charities Act 2011.

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Bishop of Southwark asks about preservation of cultural heritage in Jerusalem and Cairo

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 17th June 2025:

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

  • whether they will meet members of Save the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem; and what support, if any, they are providing to the campaign of preventing the takeover of Armenian property in the Old City of Jerusalem.
  •  whether they will take steps to ensure there are no changes to the shape of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem that would be illegal.
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Bishop of Gloucester asks about actions of the Israeli military and international humanitarian law

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 17th June 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Israeli Defence Force’s reported use of the ‘Dahiya Doctrine’, the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure; and of whether it is compatible with international humanitarian law.

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Bishop of Bristol asks about impact of the immigration health surcharge

The Bishop of Bristol received the following written answer on 17th June 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the increase to the immigration health surcharge by 66 per cent in 2024.

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Bishop of Southwark asks about government policy towards Israel and Palestine

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on efforts to recognise Palestinian statehood and the issue of trade with illegal settlements in Israel on 16th June 2025, following a government statement on the conflict in the Middle East:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I pray for wise judgment and a swift end to the current conflict between Israel and Iran. I pray for restraint and for the safety and well-being of Jewish people, here and around the world. I support the steps that have been made to protect British nationals and I am appalled by the attacks on civilians, wherever they occur.

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Bishop of London asks about ensuring equal access to adult social care

The Bishop of London asked a question on government efforts to tackle inequality of access to adult social care on 16th June 2025, during a discussion on remedying workforce gaps and skills shortages in the sector:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, given the well-documented regional and social economic disparities in access to adult social care, in what way are the Government, in focusing on the shortages in the workforce, focusing their efforts on tackling this inequality in access?

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about Israeli expansion of settlements in the West Bank

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 13th June 2025:

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

  • what assessment they have made of the government of Israel’s decision to build a Palestinian-only bypass road in the E1 area of the West Bank.
  • His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding plans to build settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank.
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Bishop of Chichester responds to government statement on spending review

The Bishop of Chichester asked a question on investment in children’s futures and the cost of living on 12th June 2025, following a government statement on the recent spending review:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, there are things to welcome in the spending review: I would point in particular to His Majesty’s Government’s steps to support the most vulnerable, tackle regional inequality, increase investment in schools, social housing and healthcare and maintain some level of support for the arts and culture, recognising their importance. More support for libraries, which act as community hubs, is welcome. I hope that the benefit of churches, which are also public buildings that contribute to community life, especially in rural areas, will also be recognised and that DCMS will do this by resolving the long-term uncertainty about the future of the listed places of worship grant scheme beyond 2026 and the capping of grants, effectively, by VAT liability.

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Bishop of Southwark asks about impact of benefit cuts on vulnerable groups

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on benefit cuts impacting the vulnerable and disabled on 12th June 2025, following a government statement on the Winter Fuel Payment:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, like other Peers, I welcome this decision. The other day, I asked the Minister something to which he did not respond, and I wonder if I might ask it again. Is one of the lessons learned from this for the Government that, should they be making further cuts in spending, they might not look to vulnerable or disabled people.

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Human Trafficking & Slavery, Additional Curates Society – Finance, Church of England – Land

On 11th June 2025, Marsha De Cordova MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Human Trafficking and Slavery

Jim Shannon MP (DUP, Strangford): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the steps the Church is taking to help tackle (a) modern slavery and (b) human trafficking.

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