Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
On the 30 November 2016 Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, answered two written questions about the work of the Church to support veterans and construct war memorials.
Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what the Church of England’s policy is on erecting new war memorial plaques. Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ written answers: War Memorials”
On 29th November 2016, Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the case for moving Parliament and central departments to the north of England.” The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster asked a follow up question.
The Lord Bishop of Chester Are we quite sure whether the people of the north would want Parliament in the north?
On 29th November 2016, Lord Beecham asked Her Majesty’s Government, “further to the announcement in the Autumn Statement that they will invest £1.4 billion to deliver 40,000 affordable homes, how many affordable houses to rent they expect local authorities to build by 2020.” The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans My Lords, in the financial year 2015-16, the Government’s own statistics show that just 6,550 homes for social rent were completed. That is the lowest number since records began and far below the just under 40,000 completed in the years 2010-11. Would the Minister agree with me that whatever the value of other forms of affordable tenure, only social rented housing is going to deal with the problem faced by the most disadvantaged communities? Will he further tell the House what the Government are doing to address this rapid decline in the provision of this form of housing?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government to invest in social rented housing”
On the 29th November 2016 Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, answered a written question regarding the retirement of the Dean of Peterborough.
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the appropriateness of procedures and practice relating to the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral standing down.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ Written Answer: Dean of Peterborough”
On the 29 November 2016 Dame Caroline Spelman the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a written question from Sir Peter Bottomley MP regarding the appointment of the next Bishop of London.
Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church Commissioners will make it their policy that the next nominee for the Bishop of London will ordain both women and men as priests. Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ Written Answer: Bishop of London appointment”
On 28th November 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Sir Peter Bottomley MP about the Bishop of London:
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether a Bishop of London has ordained a woman as a priest.
Dame Caroline Spelman: It has long been the practice of the Diocese of London for the Bishop to ordain all deacons, male and female, with Area Bishops ordaining priests in their local community.
(via Parliament.uk)
On 24th November 2016 Baroness Donaghy asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they plan to make sex and relationship education part of the national curriculum.” The Bishop of Winchester, Rt Revd Tim Dakin, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, does the Minister agree that it is important for such education to be about not just sex and sexuality but sex and relationships? Should such education therefore include wholesome friendships and relationships between the sexes, the importance—as already discussed—of guarding against abuse, and the vital need for young people to have a healthy self-identity? On the last point, I commend the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Gloucester on her work with children on body image. What steps will the Government take to incorporate such broader issues and concerns into any sex and relationships curriculum? Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks Government about importance of friendship and self-image within teaching of sex and relationship education”
On 24th November 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered questions from MPs on the persecution of Christians overseas, the Red Wednesday campaign, church buildings, anti-Semitism and the Church’s Christmas campaign:
Church Commissioners. The right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—
Persecution of Christians
Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con):
What recent representations the Church of England has received on the persecution of Christians overseas. [907442]
The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Dame Caroline Spelman): The Church of England remains concerned about a number of religious minorities across the world, not just Christian ones. Recently, the Lord Bishop of Coventry travelled to northern Iraq to visit the Christians in Mosul because it is clear that questions remain about their continued safety and the need to make their homes and businesses safe if they are to sustain themselves there. Continue reading “Church Commissioner Questions – Christian persecution, church buildings, anti-Semitism, Christmas campaign”
On 24th November 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Karl McCartney MP on the action the church is taking to combat anti-Semitism: Continue reading “Church Commissioners written answer: anti-Semitism”
On 24th November 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Stewart Jackson MP about church land in Peterborough: Continue reading “Church Commissioners written answer – Church land in Peterborough”
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