Church of England Week in Westminser, 3rd – 7th November 2014

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

In the House of Lords over the past week, bishops have proposed amendments to the Assisted Dying Bill, supported amendments to the Government’s Consumer Rights Bill and Infrastructure Bill and spoken about women facing homelessness, domestic violence and social exclusion, and low-income and vulnerable consumers. Bishops have also asked questions about the Chilcot Inquiry, financial advisory services, Iraq, the Central African Republic, Workplace Capability Assessments, and Saudi Arabia.

Monday 3rd November

Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to expedite the publication of the report by the Chilcot Inquiry. The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, asked a supplementary question on support for families affected by the conflict. Details here.

The Bishop of Norwich took part in the Committee Stage of the Government’s Consumer Rights Bill, speaking in favour of an amendment to regulate the advertising of payday loans to children. The Bishop’s speech can be read here. The amendment, which was co-sponsored by the Bishop of Truro, was withdrawn at the end of the debate, with its supporters calling for the Government to take further action before the Bill returned for its Report Stage.

The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer on financial advisory services, which can be read here. The Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received a written answer on Iraq.

Tuesday 4th November

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale asked Her Majesty’s Government what support they will provide to the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic. The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, asked a supplementary question on extending PSVI to Central African Republic, which can be read here.

Wednesday 5th November

Lord McAvoy asked Her Majesty’s Government how many people were awaiting a Work Capability Assessment on the latest date for which figures are available. The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a supplementary question, which can be read here.

The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton, spoke twice during the Committee Stage of the Consumer Rights Bill. He sponsored an amendment that sought to place a duty on the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to make regulations to prevent the sale of high-cost short-term credit through unsolicited marketing calls. His speech can be read here. Following assurances from the Minister, the Bishop withdrew his amendment. The Bishop also spoke in support of Baroness Howe of Idilcote’s amendment which would require internet service providers and mobile phone operators to provide default adult content filtering. Following the debate, Baroness Howe withdrew her amendment, but suggested that she would re-table it at Report Stage.

The Bishop of St Albans spoke twice during the Report Stage of the Infrastructure Bill, sponsoring an amendment on zero-carbon homes and co-sponsoring an amendment on the protection of the Public Forest Estate. His amendment sought to hold the Government to its commitment to a zero-carbon homes strategy as originally envisaged, and his remarks can be read here. His speech in support of the second amendment can be read here. Neither amendment was put to a vote, with the Government committing to a consultation on zero-carbon homes and to bringing its own amendments on the Public Forest Estate.

Three bishops took part in a vote on the Infrastructure Bill to create a National Infrastructure Commission. Details here.

Thursday 6th November

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens, took part in a debate in the House of Lords on women facing homelessness, domestic violence and social exclusion. The Bishop focused his remarks on tackling domestic violence, highlighting the need for closer co-ordination between faith groups and local and national government, increasing the availability and quality of training for key institutions such as the police, and asked the Minister to update the House on progress made on the Government’s violence against women strategy and its obligations under international treaties. His remarks can be read here.

The Bishop of Norwich took part in a debate in the House of Lords on the cumulative effects of Government economic, public spending and regulatory policies on low income and vulnerable consumers. focused his remarks on the rise in the use of food banks across his diocese, and the need for a sustained response to help reduce the use of food banks. Details here.

The Bishop of Coventry received three written answers on the subject of Saudi Arabia. The answers can be read here.

Friday 7th November

The House of Lords held the first day of the Committee Stage of Lord Falconer of Thoroton’s Assisted Dying Bill. The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, spoke to two amendments that he had sponsored and co-sponsored. Read his speech, here.