Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
In the past week, the Second Church Estates Commissioner has answered questions in the House of Commons on the subjects of the ordination of women, extremism, episcopal vacancies and Church investments.
In the House of Lords bishops have supported amendments to the Government’s Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, Deregulation Bill and Serious Crime Bill and spoken about music education, devolution and the Scottish referendum, and slavery in supply chains. Bishops have also asked questions about the Green Climate Fund, the Troubled Families programme, blasphemy laws in Pakistan, Iraq, youth unemployment, Syria, Boko Haram and migrants and refugees.
Monday 27th October
T
he Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith asked an oral question in the House of Lords on the Green Climate Fund. The original question can be read here.
During an oral question on the Troubled Families programme, the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a supplementary question on co-ordination with young offender programme. The question can be read here.
Four bishops took part in divisions on the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, on the third day of its Report Stage. Details here
Tuesday 28th October
Lord Holmes of Richmond asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the recent figures on youth unemployment.” The Bishop fo St Albans asked a supplementary question on regional disparities in unemployment figures. Details here.
The Bishop of St Albans took part in the Committee Stage of the Deregulation Bill, speaking against amendments to liberalise Sunday Trading laws for garden centres. His speech can be read here.
The Bishop of Rochester and the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, both co-sponsored amendments to the Serious Crime Bill. The Bishop of Rochester supported amendments to strengthen the law prohibiting female genital mutilation, and his comments can be read here. The Bishop of Durham supported an amendment on mandatory reporting of allegations of abuse. His speech can be read here. None of the amendments were put to a vote, following a positive response from the Government in both cases.
The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill took part in a short debate on the long term financial sustainability of the National Music Plan in England. His remarks can be read here.
The Bishop of St Albans received an answer to a written question on blasphemy laws in Pakistan. The question and its answer can be read here.
The Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received answers to two written questions on the situation in Iraq, which can be read here.
Wednesday 29th October
The Bishop of Coventry received two written answers on the situation in Syria. Details here.
Baroness Stowell of
Beeston led a debate on devolution following the Scottish referendum. The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, took part in the debate and his comments can be read here.
Thursday 30th October
In the House of Commons, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry MP, answered Church Commissioner questions on the ordination of women, extremism, episcopal vacancies and Church investments. A full transcript of the question time can be found here.
In the House of Lords, the Bishop of Lichfield asked a supplementary question to Baroness Cox’s question on recent developments in Nigeria, with particular reference to the terrorist activities of Boko Haram. More details here.
Following a Government statement on search and rescue for migrants and refugees, the Bishop of St Albans asked a question. Details can be found here.
The Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, took part in a debate on the use of slavery in national and international supply chains. His speech and the response from the Minister can be read here.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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