Methodist Response to Queens speech

Anthea Cox, Coordinating Secretary for Public Life and SocialJustice, says;

"The Government wants to make education, housing and health carethe centre of its work over the new Parliamentary session.Methodists care passionately about these issues and welcome theopportunity for debate.

The Methodist Church welcomes the introduction of the ClimateChange Bill. Earlier this year we responded to this bill in itsdraft form. As a nation the UK must achieve real year-on-year cutsin carbon emissions. The urgency for action is underlined by areport published by the UN today stating that carbon emissions fromindustrialized countries are at a record high. We argue thatlong-term targets should be revised in the light of the findingspublished this year by the International Panel on Climate Change.In addition we must not use the purchasing of carbon creditsoverseas to buy out our own responsibility at home.

The Human Tissues and Embryos Bill will prompt further debate onabortion and the ethical and moral issues around early human life.The Methodist Church will seek to listen, learn and speak withgreat care on this sensitive issue.

We take a keen interest in the proposals to combat terrorism. TheMethodist Church previously opposed extending the time for whichpeople can be held before trial to 90 days but we recognise theneed to consider how a balance can be achieved between providingadequate powers to address terrorism and ensuring the right toliberty and justice for all."