Government cuts to benefits have been condemned in a letter signed by 43 bishops in the Church of England. The letter, published in The Telegraph, says that the welfare reforms will have a "deeply disproportionate impact on families with children".

The warning comes ahead of a debate in the House of Lords this week on the Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill. The bishops said it was "unacceptable" of the Government to transfer the risk of high inflation rates from the Treasury to families and children.

Changes to benefits mean families will have no protection against rising prices, with as many as 200,000 children at risk of being pushed into poverty, they warn.

"The change will hit the poorest the hardest. About 60 per cent of the savings from the uprating cap will come from the poorest third of households. Only 3 per cent will come from the wealthiest third," the bishops said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is supporting their campaign.

He said: "As a civilised society, we have a duty to support those among us who are vulnerable and in need. When times are hard, that duty should be felt more than ever, …

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The new weekly sales-based Top 20 chart is being launched today and officially ranks the success of Christian and Gospel recording artists for the first time in the UK. The chart will be compiled by the Official Charts Company and launched in partnership with Christian child development charity Compassion.

The launch comes in response to strong growth within the market and Compassion UK is delighted to be part of this exciting new chapter for Christian Music within the UK. Among the artists set to feature in the chart are many of Compassion's Ambassadors, who regularly speak out on behalf of the poor and the ministry of Compassion.

"Compassion UK are thrilled to be partnering with the launch of The Christian & Gospel Charts, we are honored to have many ambassadors for our ministry among Christian Music artists in the UK as we work to bring Worship and Justice together," said Ian Hamilton Compassion UK's CEO.

The Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart will be broadcast every week on leading Christian radio stations Premier Radio and UCB, as well as being published weekly at www.officialcharts.com, the home of the UK's Official Charts online.

Christian and gospel music …

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