Church Commissioners Questions: Same-sex couples – Church Blessing Services, Occupied Palestinian Territories – Christians, Interfaith Cohesion, Safeguarding, Leaseholds, Church Assets – Historical Link to Slavery

On 22nd May 2025, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following answers to questions from MPs in the House of Commons:

Same-sex couples: Church Blessing Services

Steve Race MP (Lab, Exeter) asked: What steps the Church is taking to roll out stand-alone services to bless same-sex couples.

Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): A proposal to enable churches to opt in to the use of prayers of love and faith in stand-alone services is out for consultation and will come back to the House of Bishops in October.

Continue reading “Church Commissioners Questions: Same-sex couples – Church Blessing Services, Occupied Palestinian Territories – Christians, Interfaith Cohesion, Safeguarding, Leaseholds, Church Assets – Historical Link to Slavery”

Bishop of Newcastle asks about increasing opportunities for social mobility

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question on increasing opportunities for social mobility in the UK on 22nd May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Sutton Trust’s Opportunity Index and what steps they are taking to increase opportunities for social mobility across the country.

Continue reading “Bishop of Newcastle asks about increasing opportunities for social mobility”

Bishop of St Albans asks about government steps towards securing release of British citizen in custody in Hong Kong

In his valedictory contribution in the House of Lords on 22nd May 2025, the Bishop of St Albans tabled a question on government efforts to secure the release of Jimmy Lai from Chinese custody:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent steps they have taken towards securing the release of Jimmy Lai.

Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab, FCDO): My Lords, British national Jimmy Lai’s case is a priority for this Government. We continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and release him. The Foreign Secretary committed in the House of Commons that Ministers would raise Jimmy Lai’s case with the Hong Kong and Chinese officials at every opportunity, and we have been doing so. Our diplomats have attended his trial and continue to press for consular access.

I know the right reverend Prelate will be retiring at the end of the month. I express my gratitude and, I am sure, that of the whole House for all his work.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about government steps towards securing release of British citizen in custody in Hong Kong”

Bishop of St Albans asks about support for farmers following dry weather conditions and legal protection of chalk streams

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 22nd May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked  His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support farmers in the light of dry conditions this spring.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab, DEFRA): The UK has a resilient food supply chain that has frequently demonstrated its ability to adapt when required.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about support for farmers following dry weather conditions and legal protection of chalk streams”

Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of AI and smartphone use in schools for children

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 22nd May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the 5Rights Children and AI Design Code, and what steps they are taking to assess the impact of AI on children.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of AI and smartphone use in schools for children”

Bishop of St Albans asks about improving cyber resilience in the UK

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on improving the cyber resilience of UK businesses, organisations and government systems on 21st May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve the cyber resilience of UK businesses, organisations and government systems.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about improving cyber resilience in the UK”

Bishop of St Albans asks about role of the gambling commission in regulatory action

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure the Gambling Commission complies with its obligations under the Gambling Act 2005, including taking regulatory action against operators if necessary to protect vulnerable people from harm.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about role of the gambling commission in regulatory action”

Bishop of St Albans asks about redefining affordable housing to match local incomes

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to redefine affordable housing according to local incomes instead of market rates.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about redefining affordable housing to match local incomes”

Bishop of St Albans asks about health inequalities in rural areas

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on access to mental health support services for those in isolated and rural areas on 20th May 2025, during a discussion on declining life expectancies and poverty related inequalities:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I welcome His Majesty’s Government’s commitment to bringing forward a child poverty strategy. The interaction between mental ill-health and poverty is well known. Will the strategy address access to vital mental health support services, especially for those in more remote rural areas where they are difficult to access?

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about health inequalities in rural areas”

Bishop of St Albans asks about reducing microplastics pollution

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th May 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what further steps they plan to take to reduce microplastic pollution.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab, DEFRA): Defra recognises the importance of addressing contaminants in soil, including microplastic pollution. To tackle microplastics in soil, we need to tackle plastics up-stream. The plastic problem is one of management, not removal or eradication, to reduce, reuse, and recycle the material we have and not let it escape into, and damage, our environment.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about reducing microplastics pollution”