Bishop of Chelmsford asks about affordable housing in rural areas

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

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure the provision of sufficient affordable housing in rural areas to enable young people to remain in the villages where they live and work, ensuring the long-term viability of those communities.

Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about affordable housing in rural areas”

Bishop of Chelmsford asks about process for supporting asylum seekers

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 1st June 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to resettle refugees through community sponsorship and humanitarian programmes.

Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about process for supporting asylum seekers”

Bishop of Chelmsford asks about housing supply and housebuilding

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 21st May 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support SME builders in order to diversify the housebuilding sector.

Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about housing supply and housebuilding”

Bishop of Oxford asks about public education on climate change

The Bishop of Oxford asked a question on public education around the climate emergency on 19th May 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I am very grateful to the Minister for his Answer and for all that the Government are doing. In the light of the richly deserved tributes to Sir David Attenborough, what is the Government’s view on the role of public education and investment in public education around the climate emergency? Do they commend, for instance, the “People’s Emergency Briefing”, the new film which has been produced? Do they want to increase investment to rebuild the political consensus that we had some years ago that this is a national emergency?

Continue reading “Bishop of Oxford asks about public education on climate change”

Archbishop of Canterbury asks about support for NHS staff dealing with cases of miscarriage and infant loss

The Archbishop of Canterbury asked a question on support for NHS staff working in maternity care during a discussion on baby loss and birth trauma on 18th May 2026:

The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, baby loss can be one of the most difficult experiences for any person, but especially for NHS staff who work in or around maternity and neonatal care settings. Can the Minister outline for us what specific support is in place in the NHS for staff who experience baby loss that recognises this additional need?

Continue reading “Archbishop of Canterbury asks about support for NHS staff dealing with cases of miscarriage and infant loss”

Bishop of Norwich asks about climate finance

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 28th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government whether they delivered their commitment to provide £11.6 billion of international climate finance between 2021–22 and 2025–26, including £3 billion to protect and restore ecosystems abroad.

Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about climate finance”

Bishop of Norwich asks about environmental impact of current conflict in the Gulf

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 27th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact on the natural environment of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the recent conflict.

Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab, FCDO): No such assessment has been made.

Hansard

Bishop of Sheffield asks about asylum applications

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answers on 27th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government how many asylum application caseworkers are currently employed by the Home Office; and what plans they have to hire more staff to address the appeals backlog.

Continue reading “Bishop of Sheffield asks about asylum applications”

Bishop of Winchester asks about involvement of Rwandan army in conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo

The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answer on 27th April 2026:

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

  • what consideration they have given to imposing sanctions on the Rwandan army and key military officials for supporting, training and fighting alongside the March 23 Movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • what assessment they have made of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); and what representations they have made to the governments of the DRC and Rwanda regarding commitments to implementing the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, including the Regional Economic Integration Framework.
Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about involvement of Rwandan army in conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo”

Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church Repairs and Maintenance

ON 27th April 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Churches: Repairs and Maintenance

David Simmonds MP (Con, Ruislip, Northwood, and Pinner): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if she can confirm current charging arrangements for local authorities to request a Diocese faculty to consider changes to the grounds maintenance provision within closed churchyards.

Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church Repairs and Maintenance”