đź“ś Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill

Commons Chamber

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The UK Parliament passed a bill allowing Roman Catholics to serve as Lord High Commissioner to the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly. The legislation, which had broad support across parties, removes a century-old restriction and paves the way for Lady Angiolini’s upcoming appointment. The bill’s passage marks a step towards greater religious equality and unity in Scotland. It is set to receive Royal Assent in time for the General Assembly in May.

Summary

  • The Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill was discussed in the UK Parliament’s Committee stage.
  • The bill aims to allow a Roman Catholic to hold the office of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
  • Currently, the restriction preventing Roman Catholics from holding this position is set to be removed, aligning with changes made in 1974 to the Lord Chancellor’s position.
  • The bill received broad support across the House, with no amendments proposed during the Committee stage.
  • The Minister confirmed the urgency of the bill’s passage to ensure Lady Angiolini can take up her role at the upcoming General Assembly in May.
  • The bill is expected to move to the House of Lords soon after its approval in the Commons, aiming for royal assent in time for the General Assembly.
  • At the Third Reading, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster emphasized the bill’s significance in promoting unity between the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland.
  • The bill was passed without opposition, marking a step towards greater equality and reflecting modern Scotland’s values.

Divisiveness

The session shows a high level of agreement and consensus among the participants about the Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Bill. This is supported by several indicators in the transcript:

  1. Minister’s Statement: The Minister of State, Mr. Douglas Alexander, explicitly states that the Bill commands a broad consensus and expresses gratitude towards colleagues for their approach, indicating no opposition or significant disagreement.

  2. Shadow Minister’s Support: Andrew Bowie, the shadow Minister, expresses the full support of the opposition and does not propose any amendments, suggesting no disagreements from the opposition side. His only questions are logistical, concerning the timeline for the Bill’s passage to the House of Lords and Royal Assent.

  3. Expeditious Passage Assurances: The Minister’s response to the shadow Minister’s questions is cooperative and proactive, assuring swift passage and continued engagement with relevant parties.

  4. Third Reading Comments: During the Third Reading, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, highlights the wide support across the House and thanks multiple members for their contributions without mention of any dissent.

  5. Opposition’s Final Remarks: Andrew Bowie reiterates the positive reception of the Bill, thanking those involved and wishing the new Lord High Commissioner well, again emphasizing agreement.

  6. Unanimous Decisions: Throughout the session, key decisions such as clauses standing part of the Bill and the Bill’s Third Reading are agreed upon without any recorded objections.

Given these points, the session is characterized by a harmonious progression of the Bill with no apparent disagreements, disputes, or divergent views expressed.