It is a shame that Andrew Mackinlay has left the Front Bench, as I was looking forward to hearing some straight talking for a change.

I thank Sir Stuart Bell for his reply to my question. Does he agree that bishops do vital work in local communities, and will he join me in thanking the Bishops of Hereford and of Lichfield, and the two suffragan bishops who work under them, the Bishops of Ludlow and of Shrewsbury? Will he give a commitment to the House and to my constituents in both dioceses that those bishops' funding will be safeguarded and that their valuable work will continue to be recognised?