The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of St Albans asks about provision of food aid to Malawi

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 24th May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what is their response to the state of disaster declared due to the drought and resultant food shortages in Malawi, and whether they plan to provide additional aid to Malawi.

Bishop of Hereford asks about government approach to intrafaith issues and community relations

The Bishop of Hereford received the following written answer on 24th May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Hereford asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the review by Colin Bloom Does government ‘do God?’ An independent review into how government engages with faith, published on 26 April 2023, in particular, the recommendation that “more could be done to resource and equip policy makers and officials to increase their level of awareness and discernment regarding intrafaith issues concerning exploitation and abuse”; and what steps they are taking in response.

Bishop of Newcastle asks about reducing misuse of alcoholic drinks

The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answer on 24th May 2024:

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

further to data released by the Office for National Statistics Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK: registered in 2022, published on 22 April, which showed that the North-East had the highest rate of alcohol-specific deaths of any English region in 2022, what steps they are taking to reduce alcohol-related harm in that region.
following the publication of data by the Office for National Statistics Alcohol-specific deaths in the UK: registered in 2022 on 22 April, which revealed that 2022 was the highest year on record for deaths from alcohol-specific causes registered in the UK, what plans they have to publish an alcohol-specific strategy.

Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of and funding to address pollution

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 24th May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact that withdrawing funding for the Air Quality Grant Scheme will have on public health.

Church Commissioners Questions: Affordable & Sustainable Housing, Diocesan Support: Interregnums, Educational Attainment: Church Schools, Parish Churches: Funding, Academy Schools, and Support for People in Gaza

On 23rd May 2024, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following answers to questions from MPs in the House of Commons:

Affordable and Sustainable Housing

Selaine Saxby MP (Con, North Devon) asked: Whether the Church of England is taking steps to provide affordable and sustainable housing on its land. (902965)

Andrew Selous MP (Con, South West Bedfordshire): I can tell my hon. Friend that the Church Commissioners are bringing forward substantial new amounts of housing across England, including affordable homes, in accordance with local planning policy in the areas concerned. Where the commissioners are able to, we also seek to go further— for example, through the use of rural exception sites to provide a higher proportion of affordable housing than the local plan requires.

Church Commissioners Written Questions: Modern Slavery

On 23rd May 2024, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answer to questions from an MP:

Slavery

Caroline Ansell MP (Con, Eastbourne): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners:

whether the Church of England has had discussions with the Clewer Initiative on tackling modern slavery in the last 12 months.
whether the Church of England has had discussions with the Clewer Initiative on the impact of its funding on its work; and whether the Church is taking steps to support the Clewer Initiative.

Bishop of St Albans asks about issues affecting shipping in the English channel

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 23rd May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to prevent oil spills by the Russian shadow fleet in the English Channel.

Bishop of St Albans asks about persecution against Baha’is in Iran

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 23rd May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Human Rights Watch report “The Boot on my Neck”: Iranian Authorities’ Crime of Persecution Against Baha’is in Iran, published on 1 April.

Bishop of Lichfield asks about recruitment of minority faiths in the armed forces

The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answer on 23rd May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that more people from minority faith groups are recruited and retained by the UK armed forces.

Bishop of St Albans asks about proliferation of intimate-image based abuse among teenagers

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 23rd May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to tackle image-based sexual abuse among teenagers.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con, Home Office): The Government is committed to intervening as early as possible to prevent vulnerable children and young people from experiencing all forms of child sexual exploitation and abuse. This includes education and awareness raising initiatives and equipping frontline professionals and safeguarding partners with the tools and training to identify child sexual abuse and provide support to children and young people.

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