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Church Commissioners
10 September 2020
Lead MP
Wes Streeting
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Foreign Affairs
Other Contributors: 5
At a Glance
Wes Streeting raised concerns about church commissioners in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Church of England must take steps to ensure that the merger of the Foreign Office with the Department for International Development does not lead to the UK abandoning its commitment to the 0.7% target on overseas aid and development, and every penny counted against this target should genuinely be spent on such purposes.
The Church of England is in regular contact with Ministers and envoys to discuss a range of development and freedom of religion issues. The Archbishop of Canterbury has launched the Together In Unity Appeal, addressing poverty and hunger worsened by the pandemic.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
Welcomes the Church’s work in tackling overseas aid and development but emphasises that there must be no compromise on maintaining the 0.7% target, with all funds spent genuinely for development purposes.
Confirms that the Government has publicly committed to spending 0.7% of gross national income on aid and adhering to the OECD definition of overseas development assistance.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
Questions whether there is a need for addressing in more depth the history of the Church’s involvement in racial discrimination and slavery, especially given the Archbishop's comments on institutional racism within the Church.
Describes steps taken by the Church to combat racism through the establishment of an anti-racism taskforce and the issuance of a formal apology for past involvements in slavery, acknowledging ongoing efforts to seek forgiveness from those mistreated.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.