Church Commissioners – in the House of Commons at on 20 July 2023.
Desmond Swayne
Conservative, New Forest West
What recent steps the Church of England has taken to participate in the community sponsorship scheme.
Andrew Selous
The Second Church Estates Commissioner, The Second Church Estates Commissioner
I am able to reassure my right hon. Friend that the Church remains closely involved with the Ukraine community sponsorship scheme. Many bishops and churchgoers and hundreds of clergy have opened their homes to host Ukrainian evacuees.
Desmond Swayne
Conservative, New Forest West
That is reassuring, given the wind-up that the bishops raised in the House of Lords over the Illegal Migration Bill. What more can the Church do to encourage people to support and take in Ukrainians?
Andrew Selous
The Second Church Estates Commissioner, The Second Church Estates Commissioner
The Church of England is developing a new strategy for community sponsorship, building on the launch of community sponsorship in 2016 by Amber Rudd, when Home Secretary, and the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace. The Church will continue to use its presence in every community to raise the profile of community sponsorship, as it has been demonstrated to work well for all concerned.
