Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Loneliness

Thursday 9 December 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rachael Maskell inquired about steps the Church of England is taking to connect with isolated and lonely individuals in their communities.
  • The Church of England operates a free DailyHope telephone line, described as a "spiritual lifeline" for many isolated and vulnerable people.
  • Maskell suggested that churches could develop a loneliness strategy to address frequent or occasional loneliness experienced by 9 million people across the country.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Religion & Faith
Context

The question addresses the Church of England's efforts to connect with people who are isolated or lonely in their communities.

Question

What steps the Church of England is taking to connect with people who are isolated and lonely in their communities?

Answer from Andrew Selous

Our parish clergy and lay workers try really hard to reach out to the isolated and lonely day in, day out. In addition, the free DailyHope telephone line—0800 804 8044—from the Church of England has been described as a “spiritual lifeline” for many isolated and vulnerable people. More than 620,000 people have listened to its prayers, hymns and services.

Answered
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Q2 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

The question highlights the widespread issue of loneliness, particularly during Christmas season, and suggests that churches could develop a loneliness strategy to support people across communities.

Question

Churches have loci in every community. Across our country, 9 million people experience loneliness frequently or occasionally. In the coming Christmas season, many will be isolated. Churches could develop a loneliness strategy to address this issue and provide friendship, love and hope to people. Will the hon. Gentleman ensure that the Church has a proper loneliness strategy, not just on the phone but in person?

Answer from Andrew Selous

I am very grateful to the hon. Lady for raising this incredibly important point, and at this time of year as well, when it is even more significant for many people. She is right that Christmas can be an especially lonely time, which is why I am pleased, for example, that churches such as St Michael le Belfrey in York are running the Love Christmas campaign to provide 1 million bags of kindness across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to develop a loneliness strategy was not provided

How: Highlighting Existing Initiatives

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