Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Mayor of London concerning the location of the memorial for victims of the transatlantic slave trade.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
His Majesty’s Government has had no discussions with the Mayor of London concerning this matter. At the recent Budget, HM Government provided £10 million to National Museums Liverpool, to help in part with its planned expansion of the International Slavery Museum.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States about the promises of investment made by the US President in his 12 April 2023 address at Ulster University.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK Government and Invest Northern Ireland hosted the NI Investment Summit in September, which was a great success in showcasing Northern Ireland’s innovation and technological strengths to around 200 global investors. A US trade delegation visited Norther Ireland in October, during which the New York State Common Retirement Fund announced a new $50m investment into companies based in Northern Ireland
Our network in the US continues to promote Northern Ireland as a prime investment destination. UK Government ministers are participating in a series of engagements around St Patrick's Day to strengthen the vital transatlantic partnership between the US and Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question
To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church plans to publicly acknowledge historic links with the chattel slave trade.
Answered by Andrew Selous - Second Church Estates Commissioner
The Archbishop of Canterbury has been unequivocal on the theology of this issue, noting on his visit to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana in February 2023:
“It was a reminder that the abomination of African chattel enslavement was blasphemy: those who imprisoned men and women in those dungeons saw them as less than human. It is to the Church of England’s eternal shame that it did not always follow Christ’s teaching to give life. It is a stain on the wider church that some Christians did not see their brothers and sisters as created in the image of God, but as objects to be exploited.”
The Church Commissioners has been investigating its historic links to the chattel slave trade since 2019 and published a full, transparent report of the findings in January 2023. More information about the whole project is available here:
Church Commissioners Links to Historic Transatlantic Slavery | The Church of England
The Church Commissioners seek, through the research it has done and its response, to acknowledge the truth of the past, apologise for the wrongs that this research has highlighted, and to address these wrongs through repentance, remembrance, reconciliation, and renewal. The Church Commissioners believe that by addressing its past transparently, particularly this part of our past, the Church and its teachings will be more relevant to more people. The response is an important missional activity that will support the work and ministry of the Church of England in England.
The Church Commissioners are committed to setting up an Impact Investment Fund as part of its response to invest in a better and fairer future for all, particularly for communities affected by historic enslavement. It is hoped this fund will grow over time, reinvesting returns to enable it to have a positive and lasting legacy that will exist in perpetuity and with the potential for other institutions to participate, further enabling growth in the size and impact of the fund. This Fund will be seeded with a £100 million commitment from the Church Commissioners.
Despite recent press speculation, the Church Commissioners has no plans to increase its contribution to the Fund over the planned funding period. It is hoped that growth in the impact fund will also enable grant funding for projects focused on improving opportunities for communities impacted by historic African chattel enslavement.
The Church Commissioners have also committed to undertake further research, including into the Church Commissioners' history, supporting dioceses and parishes to research and address their historic links with African chattel enslavement, and sharing best practices with other organisations researching their enslavement legacies.
Mentions:
1: Henry Smith (Con - Crawley) I thank Mr Speaker for granting me this debate on the importance of aviation to UK trade and to the future - Speech Link
2: Robert Syms (Con - Poole) The World Bank recently conducted a survey in which it looked at the future of world trade. - Speech Link
3: Henry Smith (Con - Crawley) a positive trade balance of more than £300 billion.Businesses in these sectors have been interviewed - Speech Link
Jan. 31 2024
Source Page: UK and State of North Carolina hold Third Working Group MeetingFound: meeting in June 2023 pointing to the measurable achievements in key focus areas, including: Boosting trade
Mentions:
1: Dawn Butler (LAB - Brent Central) The family of former MP for Eddisbury Antoinette Sandbach were deeply involved in the slave trade and - Speech Link
2: Nigel Evans (CON - Ribble Valley) I appreciate that she feels strongly about the importance of academic research into the transatlantic - Speech Link
Jan. 22 2024
Source Page: Empire, Slavery and Scotland's Museums steering group recommendations: Scottish Government ResponseFound: slave trade.
Mentions:
1: Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Lab - Glasgow) I know that trade unions have written to the cabinet secretary about that. - Speech Link
2: Gilruth, Jenny (SNP - Mid Fife and Glenrothes) I regularly meet teaching trade unions, and I am keen to work with them on the issue, which is part of - Speech Link
3: Gilruth, Jenny (SNP - Mid Fife and Glenrothes) resources, which support the learning and teaching of the transatlantic slave trade component of a national - Speech Link
Written Evidence Nov. 20 2023
Inquiry: Implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for UK-EU relationsFound: NATO; increased defence spending across Europe, including Germany’s Zeitenwende moment; stronger transatlantic
Found: adds examples of UK and US companies working together in the life science sector during the recent trade