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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 10 Sep 2020
Tourism: Covid-19

"The Minister has outlined in great detail the large amount of help offered to traders and businesses in seaside resorts such as Cleethorpes, but what we are interested in is extending that support. I would appreciate it if he developed that part of his speech. Also, bus and coach operators …..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: Tourism: Covid-19
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 21 Jul 2020
BBC

"Over recent years, I would describe myself as having moved from being a friend of the BBC to being an extremely critical friend of the BBC, and I tend to think that, to some extent, it has lost its way. The director-general has today replied to a letter sent by …..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: BBC
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Jun 2020
BBC Regional Politics Coverage

"It would be remiss of me not to join colleagues in praising our local newspapers—a useful thing for any politician to do. As my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Lia Nici) will know, we are served by the daily Grimsby Telegraph, which is magnificent. We are never, …..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: BBC Regional Politics Coverage
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 06 Feb 2020
BBC Licence Fee

"The BBC recently announced that it was shedding 450 staff from the news department, and yet it said that it would still provide a fully comprehensive service. When those reports are seen by my constituents, many of whom find it difficult to raise the funds to pay for the licence, …..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: BBC Licence Fee
Speech in Westminster Hall - Mon 15 Jul 2019
BBC

"It is a pleasure to take part in the debate under your chairmanship, Mr Wilson. Like some of my Conservative colleagues, I am, broadly speaking, a supporter of the BBC, but I readily admit that that is weakening somewhat. My right hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey) and …..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: BBC
Speech in Westminster Hall - Mon 15 Jul 2019
BBC

"My hon. Friend makes a good point. There is no doubt that many important events in this country and around the world go unreported, when items that in the great scheme of things are perhaps more trivial find their way on to the airwaves, and perhaps that is a reflection …..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: BBC
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 04 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"I agree that local authorities have a role to play in youth services, as well as the charitable and voluntary sector, but does the Minister agree that the private sector also has a role? In my neighbouring constituency of Grimsby, a youth zone is being proposed, funded by local entrepreneurs. …..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 11 Jun 2019
Free TV Licences: Over-75s

"This day was inevitably going to come, given the policy concerned. When the Secretary of State responds by saying that this is a BBC decision, he is in fact saying that the BBC, an outside organisation, has a veto over the Conservative Government’s delivery on their manifesto commitment. May I …..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: Free TV Licences: Over-75s
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 23 May 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"Cleethorpes currently benefits from coastal communities funding to improve its many Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Will the Minister give an assurance that the Department’s various funding streams will continue to benefit our coastal communities?..."
Martin Vickers - View Speech

View all Martin Vickers (Con - Brigg and Immingham) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Marriage
Friday 3rd May 2019

Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to (a) restrict or (b) remove the charitable status of Churches and other faith-based organisations who express and practise historic orthodox beliefs on the doctrine of marriage.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

To be a charity, institutions, including Churches and other faith-based organisations in England and Wales, must meet the legal test for charitable status set out in the Charities Act 2011. This requires the institution to have a wholly charitable purpose for the benefit of the public. The advancement of religion has long been recognised as a charitable purpose. There is no presumption that a particular charitable purpose is for the public benefit.

The Charity Commission, as the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, is responsible for assessing if an institution meets the legal test for charitable status.

There are no plans to change the legal test for charitable status which applies to Churches and other faith-based organisations who express and practise historic orthodox beliefs on the doctrine of marriage.