This week in Parliament the Bishop of Blackburn was introduced to the House of Lords, and the Second Church Estates Commissioner Andrew Selous answered questions from MPs on LGBT+ equality, civil partnerships, church buildings, church schools and universities, HS2, Christians in Nigeria, and youth workers. Andrew also spoke about persecuted Christians overseas in a House of Commons debate.
The Bishop of Southwark praised the community response to the terror attack in Streatham, and also asked Government about the aim and intent of newly proposed counter-terrorism laws. He also asked questions about freedom of religion and belief policy in international development, and access to cash machines in the poorest areas.
The Bishop of Oxford spoke in a debate on climate change, the Bishop of Carlisle highlighted the need for more investment in adult social care, and the Bishops of Carlisle and Portsmouth spoke in the Second Reading debate of the Government’s Divorce Bill, expressing concerns about the provisions.
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about food security and scarcity in areas of East Africa affected by locusts, and also on fly-tipping. The Bishop of Durham asked a question about universal credit, and the Bishop of Leeds received answers to written questions to Government about security of Christians and freedom of religion and belief.
Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 3rd-7th February 2020”
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con): It is a pleasure, albeit a sad necessity for many of us, to speak on a debate on this issue yet again in this House. The analysis I have seen from Open Doors and others shows that in the past three years alone more than 10,000 Christians have been killed for their faith—that is a staggering number. We are right to hold this debate today, because, as others have mentioned, the evidence shows that Christians are the target of about 80% of all the acts of religious discrimination or persecution around the world.
The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I warmly welcome this report and this vital debate. Never before in the scale of human history has there been such a wide and deep threat to our ecosystem or to human flourishing that was so clear and predictable on the horizon. Technology alone is not enough.
The Lord Bishop of Carlisle: My Lords, this is a very timely debate. I am most grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, for securing it. I also look forward very much to the maiden speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Wilcox. We have already heard many statistics with regard to NHS targets and shall no doubt hear many more. But there seems to be general agreement that one of the biggest problems facing the NHS is what many now call a crisis in social 
On 6th February 2020 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP, answered questions from MPs in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Church Commissioners.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: 
On the 6th Feb 2020 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Mr Andrew Selous MP, answered a written question about youth work in the Church of England:
On 4th, 5th and 6th February 202o the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, received written answers, to questions on freedom of religion and belief.
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.