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Church Commissioners
15 October 2020
Lead MP
Kerry McCarthy
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Benefits & WelfareAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Kerry McCarthy 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
Questioned the proportion of the Church of England’s estate covered with woodland, noting that only 4% of English land in forestry is below average and asked for a strategy to increase forest cover due to its importance in carbon sequestration.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Asked about the proportion of Church of England's estate covered with woodland, noting that only 4% of English land is forested which places it at the bottom of the list. Inquired if there was a strategy to increase this coverage due to its importance in carbon sequestration.
Responded with statistics, stating that as of December 2019, Church Commissioners had 53% of their global land and 4% of English land in forestry. He also mentioned planting 1.1 million trees this year on top of 2.6 million last year but noted that most of the rural estate is high-quality agricultural land held in long-term tenancies for food production.
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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.