Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week bishops in the House of Lords tabled and spoke to amendments to the Government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill and spoke in debates on the Scotland Bill, the Online Safety Bill and on residential care. Bishops also asked questions on flooding in Cumbria, adoption, delays in settling Syrian refugees and acute oak decline. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner led a debate on reform of marriage registration certificates, including the addition of mothers’ names.
Monday 7th December
The Bishop of St Albans received written answers to questions on acute oak decline.
The Bishop of Bristol asked a question on delays in resettling Syrian refugees in the UK.
The Bishop of Portsmouth tabled and spoke in Committee to amendments on the Government’s Welfare Reform and Work BIll, on kinship carers, victims of domestic abuse and bereaved parents, the two-child limit for new claimants and the impact on families and faith communities. He also spoke in response to a Government statement on flooding in Cumbria.
Tuesday 8th December
The Second Church Estates Commissioner led a Westminster Hall debate on reforming marriage registration certificates.
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on adoption figures.
The Bishop of Chester spoke during the Committee stage of the Government’s Scotland Bill.
Wednesday 9th December
The Bishop of Durham spoke during the Committee stage of the Government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill to amendments on child poverty, life chances and parents of young children.
Thursday 10th December
The Bishop of Bristol spoke in a debate on residential care.
Friday 11th December
The Bishop of Bristol spoke during the Committee stage of the Online Safety Bill, supporting its aims and certain amendments.
