Freedom Of Information Act request ref Redacted Digest

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Hilary Davidson
5 years ago
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1 Freedom Of Information Act request ref Redacted Digest 1 Sent: 06 May :25 Subject: PAPAL VISIT LETTER TO PARLIAMENT called me today to let me know that he had given up trying to re-order events on Friday 18 Sept - he had tried to persuade the church to allow WH to come first, followed by the Abbey and Lambeth palace or vice versa. The main driver behind this was the Lord Speaker Lady Hayman who was worried about the proximity to the start of Yom Kippur.. Thanks Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2PA address redacted telephone number redacted FTN: FTN number redacted fax: fax number redacted

2 2 Sent: 06 June :42 Cc: Names redacted Subject: Security label redacted: Papal visit: Westminster Hall event The substance is slightly strange: name redacted raised this issue at our very first meeting about the visit, and he made clear that it was the Lord Speaker who was concerned at the coincidence with Yom Kippur (which I believe starts officially at sunset on 17 Sept pm). I raised this issue with name redacted but name redacted said that information redacted, while not wanting to make life difficult for those wishing to observe Yom Kippur, it would be terribly difficult to reorder the three events on the evening of 17 Sept. I talked this through with information redacted, and he duly went back to name redacted himself, but was given the same answer. So the last he told me was that he had to accept the Church's view and would explain this to the Lord Speaker. I was under the impression he had done so and she had accepted the situation. To summarise the issues, I believe that the afternoon/evening events start information redacted with the meeting with Anglican Bishops at Lambeth Palace, followed by WH information redacted and Westminster Abbey information redacted. The latter two events are pretty well coupled together, with the plan to relay the WH speech live to the congregation in the Abbey, and the Pope expected to process directly from WH to the Abbey. So really the only possible variation name redacted and I could imagine was to commence with WH followed by the Abbey and to conclude with Lambeth Palace. Other than the Yom Kippur timing, the other argument in favour of bringing WH forward was so that Parliament Square could be reopened an hour earlier in the Friday rush hour (information redacted). felt that there were strong presentational reasons for the session with the Anglican bishops taking place first, coupled with the fact that many of those taking part in the Lambeth Palace event would go on to the Abbey (but few would go to WH), which would be easy to manage. But they wouldn't be able to get from the Abbey back to Lambeth Palace ahead of the Pope. So happy to talk this through with name redacted. And I'd be very happy if name redacted was to want to talk this through again with names redacted - but I think it would have to go up to that level for there to be any chance of a change of plan. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2PA address redacted telephone number redacted FTN: FTN number redacted fax: fax number redacted

3 Sent: 04 June :13 Cc: Subject: Security label redacted: Papal visit: Westminster Hall event There were issues information redacted around attendance by the Lord Speaker, as she would wish to observe Yom Kippur and the event as now timed would make that difficult. But he was sure she would wish to be there for the Pope's address. asked whether there was any possibility that the timing of the event could be brought forward. I said that I was aware this had been discussed previously and at that stage the conclusion (I thought from the Church side) had been that it was not possible. But I promised to consult you and consider whether there was anything that might be done. asked if I could come to the House next week to discuss the event with him and other parliamentary staff. I said I would be glad to but would want to come with you or somebody from Protocol. His office have subsequently been in touch to offer 1530 on Thursday 10 June. Would you be able to come? I'd be grateful for your thoughts on the issue of timing. I'm ready to approach CBC/ Lambeth Palace to explore flexibility, but I'm aware this has been discussed before. Head of Papal Visit Team

4 3 Sent: 09 June :45 To: address redacted Subject: PERSONAL: FW: Henry Bellingham telephone call Importance: High. The Lord Speaker's involvement is more of an issue, but it is finally for her to decide whether to attend the event or perhaps to ask her deputy to do so.. Sent: 09 June :26 To: address redacted Subject: Henry Bellingham telephone call Importance: High Our Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Henry Bellingham, would like to have a quick word with Lord Patten ahead of the Lord Speaker's call on Lord Patten this afternoon. Information not relevant to this request. The Lord Speaker called Henry Bellingham this morning. As expected she raised concerns over the timing of the Pope's address at Westminster Hall, both because of the clash with Yom Kippur and information not relevant to this request. She asked whether there was a possibility of changing the programme slightly to make an earlier start time possible information redacted. The Minister said he understood the Lord Speaker's concerns. he was aware that this had been discussed previously, including by name redacted, with the Catholic Bishops' Conference and that the CBC had taken a strong view that there was no feasible alternative to the current timings. However the Lord Speaker might raise her concerns with Lord Patten when she saw him this afternoon and consider with him whether the issue might be raised with Archbishop Nichols. I enclose for background the brief we prepared for Henry Bellingham's call. Please let me know if you need any further information. Head of Papal Visit Team Foreign and Commonwealth Office

5 4 Sent: 10 June :10 To: address redacted Subject: URGENT: Papal Visit: Westminster Hall address Importance: High I attended a meeting yesterday evening at the Palace of Westminster hosted by the Yeoman Usher, to discuss the Westminster Hall event. Also present were the name redacted the House of Commons, name redacted the House of Lords, FCO Deputy Head of Protocol, and name redacted of the Catholic Bishops' Conference. To summarise, the current timing causes problems for both the Lord Speaker and the Speaker of the House of Commons - the former because of Yom Kippur, information redacted. The names redacted therefore strongly favoured re-ordering the afternoon events so that the Pope would begin with the address in Westminster Hall, continue to Westminster Abbey, and then go to Lambeth Palace for his meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Archbishops. made clear that any decision to change the programme would be for the Vatican and that he could not comment on whether it was a realistic possibility information redacted, as there is a compelling logic to the progression of events whereby the Pope meets the Archbishop at Lambeth Palace, and is then accompanied by him to Westminster Hall and on to the ecumenical prayer service at Westminster Abbey). floated as an alternative compromise (which Lord Patten had also mentioned when we met on Tuesday) that the running order remain as it is but all the events be brought forward by half an hour. The names redacted acknowledged that this could help to ease the pressure on the two speakers (provided a way could be found of ensuring that traffic closures did not prevent them from leaving for their respective destinations).. I understand that Lord Patten intends to raise this issue with Archbishop Nichols. I undertook to let Lord Patten know ahead of that discussion that bringing forward all the events by half an hour looks as though it might be a viable compromise and therefore worth putting to the Archbishop - although the clerks emphasised that a reordering remains their preferred outcome. I should be grateful if you could ensure that this message is passed to Lord Patten - and for any indication you can give me of when Lord Patten is likely to speak to Archbishop Nichols. Head of Papal Visit Team Foreign and Commonwealth Office

6 5 From: address redacted Sent: 05 July :43 Subject: RE: Papal Visit Yes thanks Lord Patten is content. Is Lord Speaker happy? Thanks From: address redacted Sent: 05 July :11 Subject: FW: Papal Visit Importance: High Please see the s below, which appear to offer a resolution to the issue of the Westminster Hall timing. and I agree that this is a good way forward (subject to information redacted agreement). I should be grateful for your confirmation that Lord Patten would be happy with it. Head of Papal Visit Team Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sent: 04 July :20 To: Names redacted Cc: Names redacted Subject: FW: Papal Visit Names redacted. On the second, it's not clear if information redacted., could you see if this looks ok?. And even it it's tight, the worst that can happen is that the programme runs a few minutes late.. If the worst that can happen is an information redacted end to the WH event, I'm pretty sure the Lord Speaker and Mr Speaker would find that acceptable. And in any event, the programme in the Hall has generous timings for moving in and out, which could be contracted slightly if necessary. If name redacted could check on timings for the car journey, my instinct is to tell name redacted we can support this if he can. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2PA address redacted telephone number redacted FTN: FTN number redacted fax: fax number redacted

7 From: Name and address redacted Sent: 04 July :58 Cc: Names and addresses redacted Subject: Papal Visit Dear name redacted The programme would therefore look like this: Would this be feasible for you? I do hope this will resolve the situation happily for everyone. All good wishes Co-ordinator for the Papal Visit to the UK Address redacted Tel: Mob: address redacted

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