Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alan Campbell and James Asser

Thursday 27th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will pass on the hon. Gentleman’s best wishes to the Second Church Estates Commissioner. The position he describes is, I think, not unusual across the country. I certainly join him in thanking regular churchgoers for everything they do for the upkeep of their churches. I will convey his comments to the Second Church Estates Commissioner, and I am sure that she will write to him as soon as possible.

[James Asser (West Ham and Beckton) (Lab)]

6. What support the Church of England is providing to Christians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Archbishop of York visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories earlier this month. He met Palestinian families on the west bank and addressed the congregation at St Andrew’s church in Ramallah. He also visited villages and highlighted the way that settlers are, in the Archbishop’s own words, “squeezing out” Palestinians.

[James Asser]

There is growing concern about settler violence on the west bank. Churches in my constituency have raised that concern, and have particularly highlighted the attacks on the Christian community, which is, in their words, small and often overlooked. May I ask the Second Church Estates Commissioner, via the Leader of the House, to use the role of the Church Commissioners to ensure that this issue stays on the agenda and in the public eye, so that this community and what is happening to it is not forgotten, either in Parliament or in the wider world?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly will do that. The Archbishop’s delegation also visited the west bank, where he met Christian Palestinian families affected by settler violence and faced a tense stand-off with armed settlers before being ordered to leave by the Israeli police. We must not lose sight of Gaza and the west bank. The ceasefire is not peace. Land disputes are rising in frequency. Ancient olive groves are being uprooted, and in Gaza food, fuel, medicine and aid remain critically short. The Archbishop commented on his return:

“They do feel let down and forgotten by the rest of the world, and, as Palestinian Christians, by the churches of the world, that here in the land of the Holy One, those who follow him are being squeezed out of existence and forced from their homes. I promised those women I would tell their story and enable their voices to be heard.”

I thank my hon. Friend for making sure that those voices are being heard today.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and James Asser

Thursday 13th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The sector that the hon. Lady talks about is important to the growth of the economy, but so too are rights at work. Successful companies are those that give decent rights and conditions to the people they employ. I will raise this matter with Ministers and see what action, if any, can be taken to resolve it.

[James Asser (West Ham and Beckton) (Lab)]

In the summer, I led a Backbench Business debate to mark the fifth anniversary of the covid pandemic. One of our asks was for a database that properly records all the covid memorials around the country. I am delighted that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has launched today an online interactive map that does exactly that. I join the Leader of the House in congratulating Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, which has done so much to keep victims’ memories alive. Will the Leader of the House ensure that the data released today is circulated to all hon. Members so that it can be promoted in our constituencies and all our local memorials can be properly recorded?