Asked by: Chris Loder (Conservative - West Dorset)
Question
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what role Paula Vennells had in advising the Commissioners after 2019; and which committees she attended.
Answered by Andrew Selous
In the spring of 2019 the House of Bishops discussed why some of the recommendations of the Church Buildings Review, which was approved by the General Synod in November 2015, had not been implemented. Paula Vennells was subsequently asked by the Archbishops to undertake a lessons learnt review. During the course of the review its remit was expanded to look at the wider working together of the National Church Institutions (NCIs), including issues around organisational governance, leadership and culture. The report, ‘Church Buildings Review- Lessons Learnt’, was completed in October 2019 and Paula Vennells attended a meeting of the House of Bishops in December 2019 at which it was presented.
In February 2020 Paula Vennells was invited to attend the Church Commissioners Board of Governors for a discussion of the Lessons Learnt report, but she was unable to attend and the report was considered in her absence. The Lessons Learnt report was considered by the Archbishops’ Council in March 2020, again in the absence of Paula Vennells, who was invited but unable to attend.
In March 2020 the Archbishops established a Coordinating Group, to continue the work of the Triennium Funding Working Group, and to coordinate certain strands of national work for the Church during the Covid 19 pandemic. Paula Vennells was invited to join the Coordinating Group and to lead on the part focusing on Governance. She attended three meetings of the Group, in April, May and June 2020 and sent apologies to two further meetings in June and July, before withdrawing from the work. The Coordinating Group became what is now the Emerging Church Steering Group. A Governance Review group under the Chairmanship of the Bishop of Leeds proceeded from August 2020, without the involvement of Paula Vennells.
The Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) is convened and funded by the three National Investment Bodies, to whom it provides ethical investment advice. Paula Vennells was appointed to the EIAG by its Nominations Committee and was a member between March 2019 and April 2021. She attended two meetings, in March and October 2019, and sent apologies for meetings thereafter until she took leave of absence from the Group from June 2020, lasting until her resignation in April 2021. More information about the EIAG can be found here: Ethical Investment Advisory Group | The Church of England
Mentions:
1: Rushanara Ali (Lab - Bethnal Green and Bow) Even this week, with the testimony of Paula Vennells, shocking new information has been revealed, and - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: None While we have been discussing how we can do our best to support the victims and right the wrongs, Paula - Speech Link
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow and Gateshead East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who recommended Paula Vennells for an award in the 2019 New Year Honours list.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Honours nominations are made in confidence, and there is an expectation that they remain confidential in order to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the honours system.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what due diligence checks the Honours committee conducted before Paula Vennells received an award in the 2019 New Year Honours list.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Names of honours committee members are published within the Government’s reports on the operation of the honours system, and are a matter of public record.
The process relating to individual honours nominations are conducted in confidence. There is an expectation that this remains so, in order to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the honours system. The Government has previously published information relating to routine checks carried out prior to the awarding of honours, which is available online.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will list the members of the Honours committee that approved the CBE for Paula Vennells in the 2019 New Year Honours list.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Names of honours committee members are published within the Government’s reports on the operation of the honours system, and are a matter of public record.
The process relating to individual honours nominations are conducted in confidence. There is an expectation that this remains so, in order to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the honours system. The Government has previously published information relating to routine checks carried out prior to the awarding of honours, which is available online.
Mentions:
1: None If there was a time limit on that, we would not have heard the evidence from Paula Vennells yesterday - Speech Link
2: None The allegations against Paula Vennells and others are not criminal allegations—it is a public inquiry - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Andrew Gwynne (Lab - Denton and Reddish) As a daughter of Denton, Paula Vennells really ought to do the right thing and hand back her CBE. - Speech Link
2: Neil O'Brien (Con - Harborough) Does he agree that it would be right for Paula Vennells to hand back her CBE, given her role in this - Speech Link
3: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) My thoughts on Paula Vennells are exactly the same as my hon. Friend’s. - Speech Link
4: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) Friend is right that Alan Bates has said he will not accept his OBE until Paula Vennells’ CBE has been - Speech Link
5: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) Picking up her point about Acton post office, Paula Vennells does not have much influence over that any - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: George Freeman (Con - Mid Norfolk) When I asked to meet Paula Vennells, I was told that she refused to meet me without her lawyer.The saga - Speech Link
2: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) I am pleased that Paula Vennells has handed back her CBE. It was absolutely the right thing to do. - Speech Link
3: Daisy Cooper (LD - St Albans) Paula Vennells has, quite rightly, handed back her CBE, but many sub-postmasters are asking why she was - Speech Link
4: Kevin Hollinrake (Con - Thirsk and Malton) It was right and proper that the former CEO, Paula Vennells, handed back her CBE. - Speech Link