This week in the House of Lords bishops spoke on Brexit and asked questions about prisoner rehabilitation, and the separation barrier in Israel. Bishops voted on amendments to the Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill, Trade Bill and House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered written questions on Christ Church Oxford and Bishop George Bell. Continue reading “Week in Westminster 11th-15th March 2019”
Votes: House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill
On 15th March 2019 the House of Lords considered the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill [HL]. In order to bring debate to an end on a particular amendment to the Bill, Lord Cormack moved ‘that the question be now put’. The House divided:
Contents: 89 | Not Contents: 23 | Result: N/A
The Bishop of St Albans voted Content.
Votes: Trade Bill
On 13th March 2019 the House of Lords considered amendments to the Trade Bill. Three Bishops voted on an amendment moved by Lord Hain, and one moved by Lord Fox:
Bishop of Southwark asks about Zimbabwe rejoining the Commonwealth
On 13th March 2019 Lord Chidgey asked the Government “what progress they have made on building a fairer Commonwealth”. The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I congratulate Her Majesty’s Government on the usefulness of the programmes outlined on 14 January, not least in education. What steps do the Government of Zimbabwe need to take to secure the support of Her Majesty’s Government for an application to rejoin the Commonwealth? Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about Zimbabwe rejoining the Commonwealth”
Votes: Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill
On 12th March 2019 the House of Lords considered amendments to the Healthcare (international Arrangements) Bill. Four Bishops voted on two amendments, both moved by Labour’s Baroness Thornton: Continue reading “Votes: Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill”
Archbishop of York commends Brexit deal and Attorney General’s advice
On 12th March 2019 the House of Lords heard the repeat of a statement from the Attorney General on Brexit negotiations. The Archbishop of York, Most Revd John Sentamu, asked a follow up question:
The Archbishop of York: My Lords, I have had the chance to study the Attorney-General’s comments and I agree with the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mackay, that the Attorney-General is right. There will always be a legal risk and he would be wrong not to tell us that it remains. But that is the nature of risk. I am told that in Chinese the word “risk” is made up of two pictures—opportunity and danger. We have to look at the opportunities and then the danger, but not always concentrate on the danger. Continue reading “Archbishop of York commends Brexit deal and Attorney General’s advice”
Bishop of Southwark calls on Government to provide more resources for prisoner rehabilitation
On 12th March 2019 Baroness Pidding asked the Government “what assessment they have made of the case for ensuring that prisons are places of rehabilitation.” The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, asked a follow-up question:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, given the recent publication by the Ministry of Justice of figures showing a record level of the incidence of self-harm by prisoners, a record level of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and a 29% rise in assaults on prison staff, will the Minister acknowledge that we need not only a major reduction in the size of the prison population but increases per capita in resources on a scale not yet contemplated by Her Majesty’s Government? This would give rehabilitation the priority that many now see as an absolute imperative. Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark calls on Government to provide more resources for prisoner rehabilitation”
