The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answer on 17th July 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they consider the Music and Dance Scheme to have successfully enabled social mobility through arts education; and whether they intend to provide a full £4 million increase to the funding of the scheme recommended to reflect the costs of delivering specialist education.
The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on growth and employment in greater Manchester during a discussion on business hiring and its impact on the wider economy on 14th July 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, the area of Greater Manchester, which is largely coterminous with my diocese, has been showing better growth and better employment figures than most other parts of the country. I wonder whether the Minister might reflect that what the wider country needs is a good dose of Manchesterism.
The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the role of climate change and extreme weather events in driving up insurance prices on 13th July 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, yesterday the Church of England General Synod reaffirmed its commitment to net zero. Back when we were first looking into that, I remember sitting down with the chief executive of one of the world’s largest insurance companies and asking him why he was so interested in climate change. He said that extreme weather events are the biggest risk for insurance companies. Does the Minister agree with me that if we are going to make insurance affordable, we have to reduce extreme weather events? It is not about adapting; it is about getting down to net zero.
The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answer on 8th July 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding reports concerning restrictions on access to land owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Silwan, Jerusalem.
The Bishop of Manchester tabled a question on the establishment of an international marine protected area in the Sargasso Sea under the Global Ocean Treaty on 6ht July 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to support the establishment of an international marine protected area in the Sargasso Sea under the Global Ocean Treaty.
On 29th June 2026, the Bishop of Manchester spoke in a debate on the Climate Change Act 2008 (International Aviation and International Shipping) Regulations 2026, commending the regulations and their environmental impact:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Lord, Lord Deben, on matters of climate change. The way he spoke with such passion and wisdom is an example of this House at its best.
Climate change presents the greatest collective action problem of our age. Every nation would prefer others to act first, which is why strong climate leadership matters. I found myself challenging the Government for not doing enough earlier this afternoon in Committee of the Financial Services and Markets Bill, so I want to commend these regulations tonight.
The Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Bill focused onstrengthening adherence to regulatory principles on 29th June 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I, too, support all the amendments in this group, but I will limit my remarks to Amendment 80, to which I have added my name. I note that I appear to be the only man to have signed any of the amendments in this group. I hope that does not mean that climate concern is now becoming divided on gender lines; climate risks are not sex specific. Perhaps I might encourage some other men to rise and support amendments in this group.
The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on training on religious literacy for adjudicators of asylum claims on 29th June 2026 during a discussion on the possibility of replacing immigration judges with adjudicators:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, picking up on the point about training, can the Minister tell us what support will be available and what training will be offered to the adjudicators around religious literacy? Decisions regarding people’s cases often hinge on claims of religious persecution and involve people who have deeply traumatic pasts. They must, therefore, be well-informed and accurate.
The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the importance of scientific trials to produce evidence-based results on the use of puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria on 25th June 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: Would the Minister agree that the scientific trials are the best way to try to remove this from the culture wars that are so damning this particular topic?
On 24th June, the Bishop of Manchester moved a motion to direct that the Clergy Conduct Measure be presented to His Majesty the King for Royal Assent. The motion passed:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Clergy Conduct Measure be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.
Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab, Chief Whip): My Lords, I have it in command from His Majesty the King to acquaint the House that His Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Clergy Conduct Measure, has consented to place his interest, as far as affected by the Measure, at the disposal of Parliament for the purpose of the Measure.
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, the Clergy Conduct Measure is a vital part of the Church of England’s ongoing reform of clergy discipline and safeguarding. During the passage of this Measure through the General Synod, the Church has acknowledged that the current clergy discipline system does not always serve complainants well. Too often, they have found the process opaque and painfully slow. Equally, it has not served clergy well, leaving many in a state of prolonged anxiety and limbo, worried they will lose house and job.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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