Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Leicester asks about addressing impacts of poverty

The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on the need to address the psychological and social impacts of poverty on 15th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, I have spoken before in this House about the poverty-shame nexus: the deep relationship between financial hardship and the psychological and social experience of shame. Can the Minister tell us what the Government are doing to address not only material financial hardship through social security but the psychological and social aspects?

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about equality assessment of the prison and probation services

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answers on 15th July 2026:

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

  • whether they conducted an Equality Impact Assessment of the prison service instruction and probation service instruction Security Vetting: PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014 for (1) prisons, (2) HM Prison and Probation Service, and (3) providers of probation services.
  • whether they have conducted an Equality Impact Assessment of the prison service instruction and probation service instruction Security Vetting: PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014; what assessment was made of the impact of the framework on women; and what conclusions were reached. 
  • what assessment they made, during the development of the prison service instruction and probation service instruction Security Vetting: PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014, of the potential impact on individuals already employed by (1) prisons, (2) HM Prison and Probation Service, and (3) providers of probation services.
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Bishop of Manchester asks about regional growth and employment

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on growth and employment in greater Manchester during a discussion on business hiring and its impact on the wider economy on 14th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, the area of Greater Manchester, which is largely coterminous with my diocese, has been showing better growth and better employment figures than most other parts of the country. I wonder whether the Minister might reflect that what the wider country needs is a good dose of Manchesterism.

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Bishop of Manchester asks about role of climate change in increasing insurance prices

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the role of climate change and extreme weather events in driving up insurance prices on 13th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, yesterday the Church of England General Synod reaffirmed its commitment to net zero. Back when we were first looking into that, I remember sitting down with the chief executive of one of the world’s largest insurance companies and asking him why he was so interested in climate change. He said that extreme weather events are the biggest risk for insurance companies. Does the Minister agree with me that if we are going to make insurance affordable, we have to reduce extreme weather events? It is not about adapting; it is about getting down to net zero.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about tree planting and associated benefits

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 13th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had, or intend to have, about the public health benefits associated with trees and green spaces as part of the development of the forthcoming England Trees Action Plan.

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Archbishop of Canterbury asks about effects of AI generation on public confidence in vaccines

The Archbishop of Canterbury asked a question on the effects of AI generation on public confidence in vaccines on 9th July 2026:

The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, we know that public confidence in vaccines is essential if there is to be good uptake and if they are to be effective. What are the Government planning to do to ensure that there is public confidence in AI-generated vaccines, and have they considered involving community and faith groups in this? Those are key to ensuring public confidence in this area.

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church Commissioners Land

On 9th July 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Church Commissioners: Land

Mr Luke Charters MP (Lab, York Outer): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what consultation the Church Commissioners carried out with tenant farmers and local communities before deciding to market land east of York for sale.

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Bishop of Chelmsford asks about funding for rural housing schemes

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 9th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what proportion of the first round of Strategic Partnership funding grants awarded under the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme are for rural housing schemes.

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Bishop of Chelmsford asks about conflict in Iran

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 9th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether Iran has contravened the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights since the start of recent hostilities between USA and Israel and Iran.

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Bishop of Winchester asks about safe refugee routes for religious minorities in Iran

On 8th July Bishop of Winchester asked a question on safe and legal routes for Iranian nationals seeking asylum, particularly religious minorities facing persecution:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, if I may broaden the scope of the Question, given that the recent conflict has not led to any evident improvement in the situation facing ordinary Iranians, what assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the availability of safe and legal routes for Iranian nationals? I am thinking in particular of members of Iran’s persecuted and vulnerable religious minorities, including Christian converts, Bahá’ís, Sunni and Sufi Muslims.

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