Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Thursday 16th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Marsha De Cordova]

The right hon. Member highlights the true value of what can happen in our local communities when churches, local authorities and all other stakeholders work together. Yes, I will take him up on that, and write to the Local Government Minister to encourage such a co-working relationship in his constituency.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

3. What recent discussions the Church has had with the Charity Commission on Project Spire.

[Marsha De Cordova]

The Church engages with the Charity Commission on a range of issues, and the Church Commissioners have held informal discussions with it on Project Spire, which is the Church’s response to address its historical connections to the transatlantic enslavement of Africans.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Is the Church going to launch a new charity? If so, when, and why the delay?

[Marsha De Cordova]

I could refer the right hon. Member to the many answers I have given to written and oral questions on this issue. As I have said, the Church is having informal discussions with the Charity Commission, and it is currently preparing an application, but it has not yet been submitted.