September 2023 – Page 2 – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Durham asks about healthcare provision for migrants in detention

The Bishop of Durham asked a question on healthcare provision at Ministry of Defence sites housing migrants and asylum seekers on 20th September 2023, during a debate on the outbreak of illness among migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, the barge is only one solution to the growing numbers who need to be accommodated. What provision of healthcare is being considered at MoD sites such as Wethersfield and, potentially, Scampton? Will GPs be on site and what all-round healthcare will there be to ensure that those resident there are kept safe?

Bishop of St Albans asks about rare disease treatments and services

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 20th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what service the NHS provides for people with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Lord Markham (Con, Department of Health & Social Care): While there is no specific prescribed service for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), children with the condition are cared for by National Health Service paediatric rheumatologists and/or geneticists with input from other clinicians as required. For patients with rare diseases such as FOP, expert centres provide clinical guidance, support and advice to patients, their families, and carers.

Bishop of St Albans asks about risks of Chinese state investment in UK businessnes

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the purchase of UK businesses by funds owned by the state of China; and what safeguards exist to protect national security in this situation.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con, Cabinet Office): As an open economy, the government welcomes foreign trade and investment, including from China, where it supports growth and jobs in the UK, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security.

Bishop of Chichester asks about reduced rate of applications to study nursing

The Bishop of Chichester asked a question on reduced rates of nursing study applications on 19th September 2023, pointing out the effects of the cost of living and the current lack of external placements for nursing students:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, following on from the noble Lord who spoke about his university, the University of Chichester—in the diocese where I serve—is now developing practice-focused nursing courses, including a new nursing associate apprenticeship scheme, even though the cost of living in the south-east is a disincentive to seeking to work in the healthcare sector. However, the university is finding that the current funding and availability of external placements are restricting the growth of these courses, despite the university’s capacity to take more students. What measures are the Government taking to support education and placement expansion at the pace requested by the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan?

Church Commissioners Written Questions: Land Use, Finance

On 19th September 2023, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Derelict Land

Julian Knight MP (Ind, Solihull): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to release brownfield sites within its Estate to the Church Housing Association to increase social housing.

Bishop of St Albans asks about review of guidance to coroners

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 19th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to review the guidance for coroners in Prevention of Future Deaths Reports.

Bishop of St Albans asks about theft of items from the British Museum

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 19th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the recovery of stolen artefacts from the British Museum; and what measures they are taking to increase security in this area.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con, DCMS): My department is closely monitoring the situation at the British Museum, and engaging directly with the Museum on this concerning issue.

Bishop of St Albans asks about humanitarian conditions in China

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 19th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government how many (1) asylum, or (2) humanitarian protection, visas were granted to people from China in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, and (d) 2022.

Votes: Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

On 18th September 2023, the House of Lords debated the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill in the Report Stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Bishop of Manchester asks about UK’s modern slavery provisions

The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answer on 18th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked His Majesty’s Government what recent assessment they have made of the impact of section 63 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 on the operation of the UK’s modern slavery provisions (1) in prisons, and (2) across the wider population.

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