Commons
Ministerial Statement
17 December 2025
UK-EU Common Understanding Negotiations
First, as Chair of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, I welcome the statement. I also commend my right hon. Friend for the stellar job he is doing in showing that this Labour Government are making very good progress on rebuilding our relationships with the EU. Rejoining Erasmus+ is a big …
Commons
Proceedings
16 December 2025
Africa: New Approach
I welcome the publication of the Government’s Africa approach. Strengthening systems that support people and growth is the right approach to improve health, education and social protection. Can the Minister confirm that the approach will include disability rights and inclusion, which the written min…
Commons
Statutory Instrument
1 December 2025
7 contributions
Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure 2025 (HC 1454)
Abuse Redress Measure 2025 (HC 1455)
I beg to move,
That the Committee has considered the Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure (HC 1454).
In one sense, the Armed Forces Chaplains (Licensing) Measure is just tidying up a small area of ecclesiastical law—which we are all, obviously, very well versed in. But in a wider and more important way, it is enabling and supportive of the essential work carried out by chaplains to His Majesty’s ar…
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Proceedings
5 November 2025
Conflict in Sudan
The situation in Sudan is beyond devastating. Indeed, Sudan’s ambassador has warned that a genocide is taking place there. As we focus on those who are being violated, I urge the Minister to ensure that the UK Government lead international efforts to bring the perpetrators of the disgraceful violenc…
Commons
Debate
4 November 2025
Welfare Spending
My right hon. Friend is making a great introduction, because the Conservatives clearly need to be reminded of their failures over 14 years in government. During their time in office, the disability employment gap remained stubbornly at 30%. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is only this Labour…
Commons
Oral Questions
Work and Pensions
27 October 2025
2 contributions
Access to Work Scheme
9. What steps he is taking to improve the Access to Work scheme.
The Access to Work scheme provides vital support, and it is one of the best forms of support for blind and partially sighted workers, but when their awards come up for review, they find that their support and awards are being significantly reduced. Given the Government’s commitment to keeping Britai…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
16 October 2025
3 contributions
Archbishop of Canterbury: Appointment Process
On 3 October, after 11 months, Bishop Sarah Mullally was appointed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. This is an historic appointment, as she is the first woman to be appointed to the position.
My hon. Friend makes some very good points, and I thank her for her words and good wishes. She is a true champion of women’s rights, but also of women in leadership.
I want to place on the record my congratulations to Bishop Sarah on making history. She spent over 35 years in the NHS, becoming the …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
16 October 2025
4 contributions
Community Relations: Impact of Church Leaders
The Church of England has a presence in every community in England, and provides support to its clergy and other faith communities through its presence and engagement initiative. Our churches work with inter-faith networks to stand in solidarity with others, bringing people together, and to deepen u…
I recognise and commend the work of all churches that are standing up for minority communities, refugees and those seeking asylum. Our diversity is our strength, and our strength as a Church lies in supporting every member of our communities, including those who face barriers, persecution or prejudi…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
16 October 2025
5 contributions
Small Churches in Rural Constituencies
Rural churches play an important role in the life and wellbeing of their communities. Funding has been allocated by the National Church Institutions in recognition of that, and it is making a significant difference to missions across the country. Funds have been awarded to the diocese of Hereford to…
I am truly sorry to hear about the closure of St John the Baptist church. As I have highlighted, in recognition of the importance of supporting churches in rural communities, the Church is investing £11 million with partner organisations dedicated to sharing the Christian faith. That funding will be…
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
16 October 2025
3 contributions
Supporting Freedom of Religion or Belief Abroad
The Prime Minister’s special envoy for freedom of religion or belief launched the Government’s new strategy on 8 July this year, and the Church welcomes that continuing commitment. Obviously it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the strategy, but the Church remains concerned about the globa…
The Church is in regular dialogue with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and welcomes the Government’s continued commitment to implementing the findings of the Truro review. As part of its continuing conversations, the Church raises the importance of supporting freedom of religion wit…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
16 October 2025
2 contributions
Persecuted Christians
The Church of England supports efforts to defend international religious freedoms for Christians or whichever religious group faces persecution. The Church has created parliamentary caucuses involving religious leaders in east and west Africa, and in south-east Asia to support legislation to protect…
I am sure that across the House we can all agree that the situation in Sudan is desperate. The Church of England dioceses have given financial support and practical aid and worked through local agencies and international charities to support the local clergy in Sudan. The Bishop of Leeds has visited…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
14 October 2025
Middle East
I welcome this long-overdue ceasefire and phase one of this peace plan. The devastating number of Palestinians killed, including more than 18,400 children, is intolerable, and countless others have life-changing injuries. The devastation we have witnessed happened as a result of previous bombardment…
Commons
Oral Questions
14 October 2025
Topical Questions
T2. Air pollution increases the risk of developing conditions including asthma and lung cancer, and has been linked to thousands of deaths. In London, hard work by our mayor Sadiq Khan has seen the level of nitrogen dioxide fall to within legal limits for the first time since regulations were introd…
Commons
Oral Questions
Justice
16 September 2025
2 contributions
Reoffending Rates
18. What assessment he has made of trends in the level of reoffending rates.
I, too, welcome my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and his new ministerial team to their roles. The Clink Charity has delivered life-changing rehabilitation at HMP Brixton for over a decade, significantly reducing reoffending rates. Indeed, its graduates are 64% less likely to r…
Commons
Debate
10 September 2025
4 contributions
Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [Lords]
It is an absolute pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis). I rise to speak to the amendments standing in my name and to new clauses 23 and 24. I begin by commending the Minister for his engagement with me on this Bill. We have had some robust and good dialogue…
My hon. Friend will not be surprised to hear that I agree 100% with her assessment. She is right; all those years ago—I do not want to say how long, because we will be showing our age—we opposed that floating bus stop outside St Thomas’ hospital, because we knew the challenges it would present for p…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 July 2025
Middle East
Seventeen thousand, nine hundred and twenty-one children have been killed in this horrific war in Gaza. The Israeli army willingly opened fire on children collecting food and trying to access water. Children are literally being starved to death, and those children not killed are left with disabling …
Commons
Ministerial Statement
21 July 2025
Independent Water Commission
I warmly welcome the Secretary of State’s statement. My constituents will be relieved as, after 14 years of Tory failure and inaction, water pollution from toxic sewage discharge is a persistent problem in Battersea, and all the while their bills are being hiked. I welcome the Government’s taking th…
Commons
Oral Questions
15 July 2025
2 contributions
Clean Energy: Supply
11. What steps he is taking to help increase the supply of clean energy.
I welcome the Government’s mission to achieve clean power by 2030. I know that the Minister will agree that it is vital that we make the transition to net zero as quickly as possible, not only to fight climate change but to lower energy bills. Does he agree that whereas previous Governments have fai…
Commons
Oral Questions
Housing, Communities and Local Government
14 July 2025
Housing Delivery
I welcome the Government’s bold and ambitious plan to deliver more housing, especially affordable and social homes, in Wandsworth. The council is already delivering homes, but of the 800 homes in its plan, only 50 are accessible for wheelchairs. How will the Government deliver more accessible homes,…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
3 July 2025
NHS 10-Year Plan
I congratulate the Secretary of State on bringing forward a bold and ambitious plan for our national health service. We know that by 2050 there will be up to 4 million people living with sight loss, so we also need eye healthcare that is fit for the future. Can my right hon. Friend tell me that his …
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
3 July 2025
3 contributions
Poverty
Churches and all our faith communities make a powerful difference in the lives of all our constituents every single day, and Church of England parishes provide more than 31,000 social action projects in church schools and educate millions of children each day. Parish initiatives include food banks, …
My hon. Friend makes an important point. Everyone has a responsibility to tackle child poverty, and we should all commend and thank the Church for the role it has played in this space. I know that the Bishop of Derby hosted Baroness Sherlock, the child poverty unit and colleagues for a roundtable, w…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
3 July 2025
2 contributions
Al-Ahli Hospital
The Israeli attacks on patients and medics at hospitals are abhorrent, as I have said on many occasions. The Church is in close contact with the diocese of Jerusalem, which oversees the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. The challenges of operating while under attack by Israel, and with the hospital and chur…
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The diocese of Jerusalem has informed us that the hospital continues to provide critical medical services—but only just. Food, fuel and medical supplies are critically low due to Israel preventing aid from getting into Gaza. The Church Commissioners repeat the dio…
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
3 July 2025
2 contributions
Project Spire
I thank the right hon. Member for his question and draw his attention to a written response I gave on 22 April. It is the Church’s intention, subject to the approval of the trustees, for the Church Commissioners to make an application to the Charity Commission to authorise an ex gratia payment under…
These are two separate issues. What is going on in relation to funding for Project Spire is totally separate to any other funding—the listed places of worship grant scheme is a separate scheme. The buildings for mission fund that supports our churches is totally separate.
Commons
Oral Questions
Church Commissioners
3 July 2025
3 contributions
Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
We continue to see the Christian community attacked by Israeli soldiers and settlers, as happened as recently as last week. Anglican aid agencies are providing financial assistance to Church institutions, including the Princess Basma Centre in East Jerusalem, St Luke’s hospital in Nablus and the Ara…
I thank my hon. Friend for his important question. There is no safe space for children in Gaza, where we know that over 56,000 people have lost their lives, including more than 17,000 children. The Church has rightly condemned the attacks on hospitals and civilians, but we can certainly do more and …
+1 more contribution in this session