Question

To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on making an assessment of freedom of religion and belief in China.

Bishops and officials of the Church of England regularly engage with Ministers and officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on a range of thematic and geographic concerns regarding freedom of religion or belief, which include the human rights situation in China, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Bishops in the House of Lords regularly raise concerns about the same through questions to Government. Details of these can be seen at:

Nigeria: Nigeria – The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)

Democratic Republic of Congo: The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)

China: China – The Church of England in Parliament (churchinparliament.org)

Most recently on 17th November the Bishop of St Albans led a debate in the House of Lords on allegations of human rights abuses in China.