Oral Answers to Questions

Alan Campbell Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)]

8. What assessment the commissioners have made of the adequacy of the places of worship renewal fund in supporting churches in suburban areas.

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Alan Campbell)]

The Second Church Estates Commissioner is unable to be in her place today, so I am answering on her behalf.

The national Church institutions are in regular contact with the DCMS about the places of worship renewal fund’s operation, and are collecting feedback from parishes before the third round opens. I hope hon. Members will be reassured that the DCMS has committed to evaluating the scheme in response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry on protecting the built environment.

[Mrs Blundell]

I am so proud to represent some wonderful churches across my constituency, from All Saints and Martyrs in Langley to St Luke’s in central Heywood, but many are in need of repair and renewal. Concerns have been raised with me about Historic England’s decision-making process for allocating the renewal fund and how some applicants in more deprived communities are going without the vital repairs that they need. What steps are being taken by the Church to ensure that a socioeconomic analysis of each application is done before future funding decisions are made?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is making a great job of representing her constituency and the churches and church communities in it. The fund, administered by Historic England, prioritises areas of double deprivation, which combine high socioeconomic deprivation with low levels of local community infrastructure or resources in rural and urban places. My hon. Friend and other colleagues may wish to write to the DCMS and Historic England if they have operational questions and feedback. The Church is also gathering experiences of clergy and parishes who have used the scheme, and this user experience is essential to understanding how the scheme may be improved by Historic England.

[Mr Speaker]

I call Bob Blackman—not here.

[Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab)]

9. What recent discussions the commissioners have had with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the second round of applications for the places of worship renewal Fund.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friends for their continued support for our historic churches on both sides of the border. As I noted in my previous answer, the Church remains in regular contact with DCMS regarding the operation of the places of worship renewal fund, and continues to relay the concerns and experiences of clergy and parishes.

[Kevin Bonavia]

I am delighted that St Andrew and St George in Stevenage, the largest parish church built in England since the second world war, has recently been awarded £882,255 as part of the places of worship renewal fund, which is helping the church undertake vital roof works. Will my right hon. Friend inform me of any other financial support that would benefit the church and others in my constituency?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I am delighted to hear that St Andrew and St George was successful in its application, and I know that my hon. Friend has raised this matter before. I understand that the grant will enable the church to remain open for worship, and the community to use the facilities and museum for many years to come. I will ask that my hon. Friend is sent a copy of the Historic England advisory note, which contains details of other funding sources for any other parishes in his constituency that may not have been successful in receiving grant money.

[Douglas McAllister]

Can the Church Commissioners confirm with the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has flowed to the Scottish Government in Barnett consequentials as a result of the new places of worship renewal fund and, now that we are on the second round, how much is anticipated will be passed to Scotland over the four years to reflect the £92 million total allocation to the renewal fund in England?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

Hon. Members will remember that the current scheme applies only in England, as heritage policy is a devolved matter. The Church of England welcomes the decision of the Scottish Government to continue providing a VAT rebate scheme, which means that places of worship in Scotland benefit from support that is not available in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The Government have confirmed twice in written answers —to my hon. Friend the Member for Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch (Katrina Murray) on 9 March, and to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (Christine Jardine) on 12 March—that Barnett consequentials were not separately identified as a dedicated Budget line, but form part of the wider funding given to the Scottish Government.

[Sir Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

The right hon. Gentleman will know that the places of worship scheme is massively oversubscribed. If people can have VAT allowances against repairs to historic places of worship in Scotland, why can we not have them in England? Would that not be a much more direct way to help with the cost of repairs for historic churches, and will he ensure that such a provision is included in the Budget?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As I have said, it is important that the scheme currently being operated is not only fit for purpose, but the best we can make it, which is why the DCMS is continuing to look at that. However, I hear what the hon. Gentleman says about VAT. That issue has been raised before, but it is a matter for the Chancellor and the hon. Gentleman will have to wait to see what is in the Budget. I am about to announce a number of days for debate on the Budget, so I am sure he will get an opportunity to raise the matter directly with the Chancellor.

[Robert Jenrick (Newark) (Reform)]

Southwell Minster, the cathedral of the diocese of Nottingham, is, in the words of the dean, facing the greatest financial crisis in its history, due to an enormous backlog of repairs. The dean and chapter are in touch with the Church Commissioners seeking an emergency financial support package, or else there is a very real prospect that the doors of the cathedral will have to close next year, which would obviously be a terrible step for all of us who love the building and see it as the centre of worship for our county. If the Leader of the House were able to put some gentle pressure on the Church Commissioners to help us, that would be very much appreciated.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

None of us would want to see the possible outcome that the right hon. Gentleman mentions, and I will certainly take that up with the Second Church Estates Commissioner to make sure not only that the Church has heard what he has said today, as I am sure it has, but that we do all we can to ensure that the outcome is the one his constituents want.

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[Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle) (Lab)]

5. What steps the Church of England is taking to support young people to develop skills to enter the workforce.

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Alan Campbell)]

The Church of England educates more than 1 million children in 4,700 schools. Church schools are committed to nurturing the knowledge, skills, character and confidence of young people that are needed to flourish, helping them to discover their gifts, serve their communities and lead purposeful lives. These schools are rooted in a vision of a rounded education, which seeks to ensure that every learner, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, can aspire, achieve and access opportunities to reach their full potential.

[Ms Minns]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer, and I put on record my thanks to all the Church of England schools in my constituency for their excellent work. The diocese of Carlisle’s northern young leaders project gives young adults the opportunity to spend a year developing leadership, ministry and workplace skills through placements in churches and community projects. What support might be available from the Church to help dioceses expand such programmes, so that more young people can gain the skills and experience needed for future employment?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I first of all echo my hon. Friend’s thanks to everyone involved in the schools in her constituency. I would make that point about my own schools, but also Church schools across our country. As she mentioned, there are good examples in the Carlisle diocese of work to support young people, such as Trinity school, which supports pupils into further education and employment, helping to grow young people’s confidence and develop skills for the local labour market. It is important that our young people are supported as they look to enter the workforce. I encourage parishes and local churches to explore local opportunities to better provide that support for young people in their community. With permission, Mr Speaker, I will ask the Second Church Estates Commissioner to write to her about the northern young leaders project.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Leader of the House very much for that answer. In February, the General Synod voted in favour of further mental health training materials for Church schools and children’s groups. Providing young people with spiritual and emotional support can make a huge difference as they prepare to leave education and enter work. In my own constituency, Christian organisations such as Young Life provide weekly clubs for young people across the Ards peninsular, offering mentorship and opportunities to develop their confidence and leadership skills. What steps will the Church Commissioners take to ensure that mental health support is central to the Church’s work in equipping young people with the skills they need to transition from education to work?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The hon. Gentleman raises a very important point about mental health. It is very much in line with what the Government are trying to do to ensure that young people have the support they need. I thank his schools for showing leadership in that regard. There are, of course, many across the country that are doing that. I will ask the Second Church Estates Commissioner to get the hon. Gentleman an update on what is anticipated.

[Sam Carling (North West Cambridgeshire) (Lab)]

6. What steps the Church of England is taking to ensure compliance with the duty to report child sexual abuse introduced in the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The national Church institutions have reviewed the duty to report in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 and consider that the Church’s existing policies and code of practice reporting expectations regarding safeguarding are compliant with the new duty. The Church will continue to keep its guidance under review as the new statutory duty is implemented. Since 2016, all Church officers have a mandatory requirement to promptly report safeguarding concerns, allegations and disclosures of abuse to the appropriate safeguarding authorities.

[Sam Carling]

I thank my right hon. Friend for his reply. General Synod papers from June claim that “it is now clear” that the duty to report child sexual abuse in the Crime and Policing Act does not apply to religious confessionals. That comes despite many reassurances from the Home Office to me and the hon. Member for Wells and Mendip Hills (Tessa Munt) during the passage of the Act that confessionals would not be exempted. What discussions has the Church had with the Home Office to inform its current position?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I thank my hon. Friend for that question. He has spoken very powerfully, over a period of time since joining the House, on the importance of safeguarding and I thank him for that. It is the role of this Chamber to scrutinise the Church and I am sure that the Second Church Estates Commissioner welcomes his continued scrutiny of this aspect of the Church. We all need to continue to do better to address safeguarding. The protection of children and vulnerable adults remains the Church’s first priority. It is committed to preventing abuse and ensuring survivors are heard with compassion and care. He asks a question on a specific point about discussions between the Home Office and the Church. I am not across that, for fairly obvious reasons, but I will ensure that he gets an update from the Second Church Estates Commissioner, which I hope will answer the points he raises.

[Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills) (LD)]

The Church’s lead safeguarding bishop has said that mandatory reporting should take precedence over confidences passed under the seal of confession, which is to be lauded. Confession is not a regulated activity, as defined under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, so does the right hon. Gentleman agree with the Bishop of Tewkesbury when he says:

“the responsibility is firmly in our court”?

Can the right hon. Gentleman set out what steps the Church will take to ensure that that happens?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

In line with what I just said to my hon. Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Sam Carling), if the hon. Lady—who speaks powerfully on those matters—puts what she is saying in writing to the Second Church Estates Commissioner, I am sure that she will take it up with the Church to ensure that that view is heard and her question is answered.

The right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, was asked—

--- Later in debate ---

[Emma Lewell (South Shields) (Lab)]

10. What recent steps the Church of England has taken to establish an independent safeguarding system.

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Alan Campbell)]

In October 2026, the Archbishops’ Council approved a detailed operating model for independent safeguarding structures in the Church of England, following seven months of development by the safeguarding structures reform programme.

[Emma Lewell]

It is now over three years since Professor Alexis Jay’s recommendations for a fully independent safeguarding system in the Church. I understand that the legislation to enact that is not due until 2028. Can my right hon. Friend say what can be done to accelerate that process, as any system that lacks full independence is not one that can claim it is adequately meeting its safeguarding requirements?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

As usual, my hon. Friend makes a powerful point on behalf of the community that she serves. Further details about the new model of safeguarding structures will be published shortly. The new model provides for the establishment of an independent safeguarding authority governed by a majority independent board of trustees with responsibility for safeguarding policy, risk assessment, audit, inspection and national casework operations. Implementation is under way, including the national roll-out of a complaints process and recruitment to the adjudicator role. The transition of functions to the new structures is expected to be substantially complete by 2027. I will ask the Second Church Estates Commissioner to write to my hon. Friend with more details.