Month: December 2015

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about private sponsorship schemes for Syrian refugees

On 17th December 2015 Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they will follow the example of the government of Canada in welcoming further Syrian refugees”. The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:

StAlbans171115The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I congratulate the Government on the first 1,000 refugees being brought in. I hope that this will continue apace. On the Question of the noble Lord, Lord Roberts, which draws on the experience of Canada, since 1979 the Canada private sponsorship programme has enabled 200,000 refugees to be settled in that country. Privately sponsored refugees are likely to make up around 40% of those coming in over the forthcoming months. It is a good example of big society, whereby churches and community groups are given responsibility for working with resettlement programmes. Have Her Majesty’s Government looked into the experience of Canada, and are they considering developing similar programmes in the UK based on that good experience? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about private sponsorship schemes for Syrian refugees”

Church Commissioner Questions – Syrian refugees, fossil fuel investments, hedgehogs

On the 17th December 2015 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, answered four oral questions in the House of Commons about Syrian refugees, fossil fuel investments and the protection of hedgehogs.

Continue reading “Church Commissioner Questions – Syrian refugees, fossil fuel investments, hedgehogs”

Marriage Registration Bill introduced by Caroline Spelman MP

Caroline SpelmanOn 17th December 2015 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, introduced the Marriage Registration Bill (a Private Member’s Bill) into the House of Commons. The Bill was co-sponsored by Caroline Lucas (Green), Victoria Prentis (Con), Julian Knight (Con), Frank Field (Lab), Christina Rees (Lab) and Huw Irranca Davies (Lab).

The Bill would reform the way all marriages are registered in the UK, bringing the process into the digital age and updating those who can be registered on a marriage certificate, allowing mothers’ names to appear. The bill can be read here

The presentation of the Bill follows a parliamentary debate on the subject led recently by Caroline Spelman.

Continue reading “Marriage Registration Bill introduced by Caroline Spelman MP”

Divisions – Education and Adoption Bill

On 16th December 2015 votes were held on amendments to the Government’s Education and Adoption Bill at its Report stage in the House of Lords. Several bishops took part in the votes: Continue reading “Divisions – Education and Adoption Bill”

Education and Adoption Bill – Bishop of Ely welcomes Government assurances on church school ethos and academy conversion

On 16th December 2015 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Education and Adoption Bill at Report Stage. Ther Bishop of Ely, Rt Revd Stephen Conway, spoke during debate on amendments to clause 7 of the Bill on the Secretary of State’s duty to make Academy orders where a school is judged to be failing. The Bishop supported the Government’s position.

14.10.16 Bishop of Ely 2The Lord Bishop of Ely: My Lords, I am very keen to support the idea of effective communication with our parents, not least about the ethos and character of schools, given that they have a deep effect. We see in the good key stage 2 results this last year the impact of character and ethos on effective academic results. Our parents are really keen to ensure that in any change of school, its ethos and character are maintained and that that is effectively communicated to them by any academy proprietor.

I had submitted my own amendment, which I have now withdrawn because I am content, following conversation with the Minister, that he agrees that ethos and character can be maintained and should be safeguarded effectively. I understand that parents around the country want, of course, to have even more say in what happens, but consider that church schools, in particular, have something significant to offer in relation not only to academic performance and ethos but future guarantees of religious literacy in the way in which our country is served. Continue reading “Education and Adoption Bill – Bishop of Ely welcomes Government assurances on church school ethos and academy conversion”

Bishop of Coventry asks about freedom of religion and belief in Iraq

On 16th December 2015 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions on religious freedom in Iraq.

13.10 Bishop of CoventryThe Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Iraq’s National Identity Law, and the impact that it will have on religious minorities in Iraq and their right to freedom of religion or belief.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are concerned by Iraq’s proposed National Identity Law, in particular Article 26 which could restrict freedom of religion or belief, which is a basic human right. We welcome the resolution adopted by the majority of the Iraqi Council of Representatives on 17 November declaring its intention to amend the law. The National Identity Law is yet to be discussed since Parliament has been in recess. We will continue to monitor this issue closely. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about freedom of religion and belief in Iraq”

Bishop of Salisbury welcomes Paris climate change agreement

On 15th December 2015 a statement from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the Paris Climate Change Summit was repeated in the House of Lords. The Bishop of Salisbury was amongst those who responded:

SalisburyThe Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I, too, congratulate the Minister on the achievements in Paris and the part that the UK Government played. The faith communities organised, among those from the wider public sphere, to gather in Paris. Forty-four pilgrims walked from London; seven walked from the Danish-German border; and 22 cycled from Copenhagen. As they travelled on the journey to Paris, they gathered with them the support of the communities through which they travelled and in which meetings were held. This culminated last week with the presentation of a petition, with signatures from 1.83 million people, to Christiana Figueres and President Hollande by 20 of us in the faith communities. This is a deal that many people wanted. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the UN, said that it was the most complex and largest talks he had ever been part of. The sense of achievement is therefore very great in having pulled off the Paris agreement. The UK’s contribution through climate finance was particularly significant.

Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury welcomes Paris climate change agreement”

Bishop of Peterborough calls for culture change in way NHS treats those with learning disabilities

On 15th December 2015 Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust’s decision to list Down’s syndrome as a reason to issue a Do Not Resuscitate order to a patient.” The Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question.

14.02 PeterboroughThe Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, from these Benches we affirm that those with Down’s syndrome and other learning disabilities and handicaps are fully human and fully made in the image of God. We believe that the chief mark of a civilised society is the way it cares for the most vulnerable. Can the Government, through the Minister, indicate what they can do to change the culture, training and attitudes within the NHS—and perhaps within society more widely—to make sure that mistakes such as the one made by this junior doctor are not made again? Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough calls for culture change in way NHS treats those with learning disabilities”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government about financial cost of UK air strikes in Iraq and Syria

On 15th December 2015 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received answers to two written questions to Government on the cost of air strikes in Iraq and Syria. 


Bp Coventry May 2015The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the financial cost to date of UK air strikes against Daesh in Iraq.

Earl Howe: It is not possible to separate out the costs of military action in Iraq from that of wider counter-Daesh operations due to the inter-related nature of UK military activity. The net additional cost of UK counter-Daesh operations to date is approximately £150 million. This includes around £80 million for military operations between August 2014 – 31 March 2015 and a net additional cost to date in this financial year of around £70 million. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about financial cost of UK air strikes in Iraq and Syria”

Welfare Reform Bill: Bishop of Durham supports amendments on reporting on apprenticeships

On 14th December 2015 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill in its third day of Committee. 

The Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, spoke in support of amendments that would require the government to provide a more thorough reporting on the take-up of apprenticeships. The amendments were withdrawn after debate.

14.06.10 Bishop of Durham 5The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, in the north-east I get to see apprentices in the car industry, the subsea industry, traditional industries such as stonemasonry, farming, and all kinds of sectors in schools. It is brilliant to be able to see them face to face, to meet them and talk to them. There are brilliant apprenticeships and we need to grow them. Therefore, the 3 million target is fantastic, but I have to say that where the Bill refers to,

“information about the progress made in the reporting period towards the apprenticeships target”,

which is simply the figure of 3 million, that does not give the information about the types of apprenticeship that there are. Continue reading “Welfare Reform Bill: Bishop of Durham supports amendments on reporting on apprenticeships”