Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
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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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.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about government policy towards Israel and Palestine”
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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The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 13th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government:
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.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chichester responds to government statement on spending review”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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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.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Questions: Human Trafficking & Slavery, Additional Curates Society – Finance, Church of England – Land”
The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the restoration of winter fuel payments to the elderly on 10th June 2025, asking the government to confirm they would not introduce further cuts impacting vulnerable or disabled people:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I welcome the reversal of the decision on winter fuel payments, having spoken, like others, cautioning against so many pensioners who are vulnerable and in need being deprived of it—not against the principle of changing it and restricting it to some degree. I just wonder whether, in terms of lessons learned, a more general principle might be acknowledged that in future cuts, the Government will not look to making them from vulnerable or disabled people.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about impact of future benefit cuts on the vulnerable and disabled”The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 10th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government whether they will publish a response to the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and when.
Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about International Court of Justice Opinion on Israeli activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”On 9th June 2025, the Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the recent Israeli forces attack on the Anglican Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, and raised the need for the UK government to recognise the state of Palestine:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister and to His Majesty’s Government for the Statement on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. May I press the Minister on two things? The first is the attack by Israeli forces on the compound of the Anglican al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, killing five, including three journalists and a father escorting his son to the surgical unit for treatment for prior injuries. This is the latest in a number of attacks by the IDF on church hospitals and churches, in defiance of international law. Will the Minister accept that specific actions are now required, since reasoned pleas have been ignored?
Secondly, in light of what the Minister has said about the UN conference from 17 to 20 June and the conducive time to recognise Palestine, will he confirm that a bold and clear statement will be made at that conference of the Government’s firm intention to recognise the state of Palestine?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about recent attack on Anglican Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza and urges government to consider recognition of state of Palestine”
The Church of England in Parliament 
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