The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answer on 28th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to make apprenticeships more financially viable for young people and their families.
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab, DfE): I refer the noble Lord to the answer of 6 January 2025 to Question HL3616(opens in a new tab).
On 27th January 2025, the Bishop of Lincoln spoke in a debate on the impact of removing agricultural property relief tax, increases to national insurance, and extension of VAT to private schools on the regions and nations of the UK, raising risks to family farms and food security:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: My Lords, it is entirely legitimate for the Government to target rich business owners and billionaires who have bought farmland for the sole purpose of avoiding inheritance tax, However, Jeremy Moody of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers said recently that the reform of APR
“hits the people it is supposed to protect, and protects those it is supposed to hit.
Continue reading “Bishop of Lincoln raises risks to family farms and food security under new budget rules”The Bishop of Lincoln asked a question on children’s rights in education on 27th January 2025, during a discussion on government plans to improve children’s wellbeing and opportunities:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: My Lords, Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the fundamental right of all children to a free primary education and access to different forms of secondary education. Noble Lords may know that 1 million children are educated in Church of England schools at the moment, and the Church of England’s vision for education is rooted in a Christian ethos for the common good and the holistic well-being of every child, including those of all faiths and none. The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools framework, which informs best practice in church schools, has a strong and effective focus on children’s rights in accordance with Article 28 in the UN convention. Will the Minister ensure that the substantial and compelling learnings from church schools can be highlighted and shared within her department’s ongoing review of potential reforms to current accountability measures?
Continue reading “Bishop of Lincoln asks about children’s rights in the education sector”
On 27th January 2025, Marsha De Cordova, the 2nd Church Estates Commissioner, gave the following written answer to a questions from an MP:
Cathedrals: Choirs
Mark Pritchard MP (Con, The Wrekin): To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church Commissioners are taking to support the work, cultural and spiritual contribution of cathedral choirs.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Questions: Cathedral Choirs”The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answer on 27th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Centre for Social Justice report Lonely Nation – Part 4: Loneliness and food banks, published in December 2024, which found that over twice as many people who use food banks feel lonely most of the time compared to all adults, what steps they are taking to address loneliness and social isolation as a root cause of food bank usage.
Continue reading “Bishop of Newcastle asks about efforts to address loneliness and social isolation”
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 27th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to meet the four UK-based pro-democracy campaigners who had bounties placed on them by the Hong Kong Police on 24 December 2024.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about pro-democracy protestors from Hong Kong”
The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answers on 27th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government when they intend to publish the review of calculations of child maintenance.
Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about child maintenance and domestic violence”
The Bishop of St Albans led a debate on support for farmers to adapt to climate change amid anticipated food shortages on 23rd January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government, following reports that the United Kingdom faces shortages of broccoli and cauliflower this spring, what steps they are taking to support farmers and growers to adapt to climate change.
My Lords, I declare my interest as president of the Rural Coalition. I thank those Members of your Lordships’ House who have signed up to engage today on what I believe is an important and topical issue. Our debate is about the shortage of great British broccoli and cauliflowers—and, of course, many other vegetables as well—which have been part of our staple diet for years, and the difficulties caused, at least in part, by climate degradation. It is fitting that we have this debate just prior to the start of agri-science week in this Parliament.
Farming is an extremely tough profession at the best of times, and the range of setbacks and difficulties our farmers face is huge. I have to say I am deeply troubled by the low morale and depression that I hear at the moment from farms across my diocese, in all corners of the agricultural world. I want to take a moment here to pay tribute to all farmers and those involved in associated industries for their hard work, their dedication, their resilience and the critical services they provide to us all as they produce food. We must not take them for granted.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans leads debate on support for farmers to adapt to climate change”On 23rd January 2025, Marsha De Cordova MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:
Churches: Music
Stuart Anderson MP (Con, South Shropshire): To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church is taking to support churches in rural areas engage local communities in music.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church Music, Conservation, Food Banks”
The Bishop of Sheffield tabled a question on the topic of access to legal aid for asylum seekers on 23rd January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the availability and accessibility of legal aid for asylum seekers.
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper and declare my interest as a patron of the ASSIST charity in Sheffield.
Continue reading “Bishop of Sheffield asks about legal aid for asylum seekers”
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.