Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about role of historic churches in urban renewal

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on revitalisation of historic city centre churches during a discussion on urban renewal on 11th December 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, has the Minister considered the significance of historic church buildings in city centre revitalisation? In my diocese, for instance, the recent renewal of St Mary Magdalene Church in Newark has not only repaired the grade 1 listed building but significantly developed the town’s cultural and economic vitality. There is uncertainty about the future scheme for VAT relief for listed churches, and the cap introduced last year affected long-planned projects around the country. What assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the impact of that and of continuing the scheme beyond March next year without the cap?

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Bishop of Norwich asks about environmental concerns on flooding and marshland

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 12th December 2025:

The Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have for legislation to make it mandatory for insurance companies to provide flood cover at an affordable and fair price, to supersede the temporary Flood Re scheme.

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Votes: Employment Rights Bill

On 10th December 2025, the House of Lords debated Commons Reasons and Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill. Votes were held on further amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:

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Bishop of Winchester moves that Abuse Redress and Armed Forces Chaplaincy Measures receive Royal Assent

On 9th December 2025, the Bishop of Winchester moved that two church measures, the Abuse Redress Measure and the Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure, be sent to the King for Royal Assent:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.

My Lords, I shall speak also to the Abuse Redress Measure, which is also in my name on the Order Paper.

The Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure is in one sense just a tidying up of a small area of ecclesiastical law, but in a wider and more important way it is enabling and supportive of the essential work carried out by Church of England chaplains to His Majesty’s forces, to whom I am sure we all want to pay tribute. For over a century, forces chaplains have been issued with licences by the Archbishop of Canterbury, giving them ecclesiastical authority to exercise ministry in that role. However, recent work by the provincial registrars has identified a gap in the relevant statutory and canonical provision in this area.

Without this Measure, each Armed Forces chaplain would also need to obtain a licence or permission to officiate from the bishop of each diocese in which the chaplain is to exercise ministry. Not only would that give rise to a significant burden on bishops and their offices but, more significantly, it would cause problems for the Armed Forces, not least because chaplains need to be able to move with and minister to military personnel wherever they are currently serving, and sometimes to do so at some speed. It is impractical for them to seek a further authority to exercise ministry each time the service men and women they minister to move to a different part of the country. This Measure addresses that in a straightforward way by inserting a new section headed “Armed Forces chaplains” in the Extra-Parochial Ministry Measure 1967.

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Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about trauma training for armed forces chaplains

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on specialist trauma training for armed forces chaplains, during a discussion on support for victims of sexual violence in the armed forces on 9th December 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, given that chaplains routinely provide partial support for victims of crime, including sexual offences, can the Minister outline what steps His Majesty’s Government are taking to ensure that Armed Forces chaplains receive specialist trauma-informed training so that they can support survivors of sexual violence? Is such training consistent across the services?

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Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about support for care-leavers accessing higher education

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on support provided for care-leavers entering higher education during a discussion on reducing the level of young people not in work, education or training on 8th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, care-experienced young people are particularly at risk of being not in work, education or training. Has the Minister taken note of the support that universities, such as Nottingham Trent University, provide to care leavers in admissions, finance and transition, while also securing affordable, suitable and stable accommodation for them and estranged young people? What assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the additional support that care leavers need to stay in education? Can the Government ensure that this kind of specific support is available more consistently across universities and for apprenticeships too?

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Terminally ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Bishop of Leicester supports amendment on role of children’s voices

The Bishop of Leicester spoke during a debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill) on 5th December 2025, supporting amendments regarding the bill’s impact on children and young people:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, I too rise to support this amendment with some caution, noting that these are deep waters. I hope that noble Lords will forgive me for pointing out the blindingly obvious: as I look around your Lordships’ Committee, I do not see any 18 to 25 year-olds on these Benches, and the voices of children and young people are vital in such a debate.

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Bishop of Manchester speaks in debate on Autumn Budget

The Bishop of Manchester took part in a debate on the autumn Budget on 4th December 2025, welcoming plans to end the two-child limit and reduction in household energy bills, and calling for further support for clergy and maintenance of places of worship:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I congratulate my right reverend friend the Bishop of Portsmouth on his excellent maiden speech. Not least as our lead Bishop on education, I believe he will have an immediate and valuable contribution to make to the remaining stages of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. He and I first met as opponents on the cricket field many years ago; I am sure he will build as long and solid an innings here in your Lordships’ House as ever he did at the wicket.

I also join many noble Lords in adding my deepest thanks to the Government for bringing the two-child limit to an end. I never felt it right or just to push a child into poverty simply for having too many sisters or brothers; it makes even less sense when we badly need a birth rate that will provide Britain with tomorrow’s workforce without having to rely on migration to fill the labour market gaps. I look forward to seeing the wider child poverty strategy.

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2025 Budget: Bishop of Portsmouth makes maiden speech

The Bishop of Portsmouth made his maiden speech on 4th December 2025 during a debate on the Autumn Budget, focusing on children and education:

The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: I thank the Minister for his opening speech in this debate on the Budget. In this maiden speech, I want to thank all noble Lords for their warm welcome to the House, and to thank the doorkeepers and parliamentary staff for their unfailing kindness, good humour and patience with lost Bishops, and for the support they gave in the run-up to my introduction in late October.

As Bishop of Portsmouth, I lead a vibrant, confident community of communities. The Anglican diocese of Portsmouth lives from a generous, grounded and corrigible faith, a commitment to collaboration and partnership, and a vision of the common good which includes everyone. Wonderfully, in my view, the motto for the city of Portsmouth is “Heaven’s Light Our Guide”.

Working in partnership with neighbours within the wider Christian community, and with the faith communities and voluntary and statutory sectors, the communities I lead are resolved to serve the people, neighbourhoods and communities of East Hampshire, the city of Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, to find what is good and to strengthen it, and to work with others for the flourishing of everyone.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about education on harmful online materials

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on the role of Ofsted’s new education framework in facilitating education on harmful online materials on 4th December 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, given the Church of England’s role in education, I welcome the age limits introduced for harmful material sites. However, it is very hard to police the use of VPNs, and thus education is likely to be needed in a great deal of cases, as well as enforcement. What role will Ofsted’s new framework play in ensuring that statutory relationships, sex and health education is delivered effectively with regard to this matter?

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