Tag: equality

Bishop of Manchester highlights concerns for mental health of trans people following supreme court judgement

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on support for the mental health of trans people during a discussion on the implementation of Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers on 1st June 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, alongside other faith leaders, I am increasingly coming across trans people—men and women, often young and quite fragile—who are increasingly frightened. They are frightened about participating in public life and about being challenged. Some are even frightened about going to the doctor. What assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the mental health of trans people, and how will they support them with these changes?

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Bishop of Derby speaks in debate taking note of International Women’s Day

The Bishop of Derby spoke during a debate taking note of International Women’s Day on 6th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, it is an honour to speak today, and I particularly look forward to hearing so many maiden speeches. I have been reflecting on the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, “Give to gain”. A seat in your Lordships’ House is a powerful platform, but whatever voice or influence we may have, it is not for ourselves; it is to be used to secure gains for others.

Noble Lords will be aware that these Benches have made some progress in recent years toward gender parity. There are currently eight women on our Benches, soon to be nine—the highest number to date—and two former Lords spiritual. As the Church of England’s first female Bishop, I know that opening a door is both a powerful and a humbling act, particularly as we rejoice in the appointment and forthcoming installation of my noble friend, the most reverend Primate, our first female Archbishop of Canterbury.

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Bishop of Manchester asks about draft code of practice on single sex spaces

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the importance of ensuring any draft code of practice on single sex spaces reflect compassion, respect, and kindness as well as legal clarity, during a discussion on the EHRC guidance on single-spaces on 2nd February 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, perhaps this is a very obvious question to come from a bishop, but these are matters that affect people’s sense of dignity, their identity, belonging and everyday lives. Can the Minister say how the Government are ensuring that, alongside legal clarity, the approach taken in considering this draft code reflects compassion, respect and kindness towards all those affected, so that the guidance not only supports compliance but will encourage a much-needed culture of mutual understanding?

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Bishop of Lincoln asks about equality in education

On 5th January 2026, the Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answers:

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

  • what guidance they have issued to the Regional Department for Education Directors about the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 in academies.
  • what processes the Regional Department for Education Directors has in place to monitor the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 by academies.
  • what guidance they have issued to the Regional Department for Education Directors about the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 in schools in the maintained system.
  • what processes the Regional Department for Education Directors has in place to monitor the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 by schools in the maintained system.
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Bishop of Derby asks about girls health and wellbeing

The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 17th December 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to extend the remit of the Minister for Women and Equalities specifically to include girls’ wellbeing.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about recent reports on unconscious bias training

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 15th April 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of recent research reported by The Times which suggests that unconscious bias training is not effective.

Baroness Barran (Con, DWE): This research is a welcome addition to the canon of research on the efficacy of diversity and inclusion (D&I) training.

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Bishop of Manchester asks about implementation of the Lammy review into racial disparity in the criminal justice system

The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answer on 24th January 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked His Majesty’s Government whether they will publish an updated progress report on implementation of recommendations in David Lammy MP’s Review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in the Criminal Justice System, published in September 2017.

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Bishop of London asks about implementation of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review

The Bishop of London asked a question on implementation of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review on 28th November 2023, with regards to the establishment of a strategic race advisory board with a diverse and inclusive senior leadership team:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I thank the Minister for updating us on some of the recommendations from the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. I am particularly encouraged to hear that recommendation 27 in terms of the overarching strategic race advisory board has been implemented. Could the Minister update us on recommendation 26, around how they can demonstrate a diverse and inclusive senior leadership team?

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Church Commissioners Written Answers: LGBTQ+ People

Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP on 22nd February 2023:

Elliot Colburn MP (Con): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, in the context of the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith process and the forthcoming General Synod, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the potential impact of the Church of England’s exemptions from the Equality Act 2010 on LGBT+ people.

Andrew Selous MP (Con): The National Church Institutions have made no such assessment. The exceptions in the Equality Act are for all religious organisations rather than for the Church of England specifically. It is unlikely that any of the exceptions will be engaged by Living in Love and Faith and therefore no assessment has been carried out.

Hansard

Second Estates Commissioner to Synod – not the job of Parliament to decide Church of England doctrine

On 8th February 2023 the Church of England General Synod debated a motion on same-sex marriage and the response of the College of Bishops to the Church’s Living in Love and Faith process. The Second Church Estates Commissioner addressed the Synod:

Andrew Selous MP, Second Church Estates Commissioner. Ex-officio 458:

I was called to answer an urgent question on this issue in the House of Commons on 24th January. I was amused to be told the urgent question would not be repeated in the House of Lords because there was apparently no one to speak for the Church of England in the House of Lords !

I pledged to make MPs views known to Synod. Of the twelve who spoke that day, eight expressed a hope that the Synod would change doctrine to enable same-sex couples to be married by the Church. There were deep and heartfelt stories from a number of MPs of the personal sense of hurt they felt at what they considered to be ongoing discrimination against LGBT+ people.

Others have contacted me in private, for fear of retribution, to support traditional doctrine and several said that it is for Synod, not for Parliament, to reach its own prayerful decision on this issue. Copies of the Hansard extract are available at the administration desk.

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