Author: parliamentaryunit

Bishop of Bristol highlights negative impact of lack of digital access for children

On 8th February 2024, the Bishop of Bristol spoke in a debate on a report from the Communications and Digital Committee on digital exclusion, emphasising the impact of lack of digital access on children:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Lipsey, whose speech imaginatively took us into the life and world of Joe Soap. I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Stowell, on securing this timely debate—timely in one sense—and I offer my thanks to all members of the Communications and Digital Committee for a thorough and wide-ranging report. I also lament the lack of a government cross-departmental strategy.

Today, I focus my comments on digital inclusion and exclusion in and around schools, about which I have a little knowledge. In 2021, UNICEF produced an excellent report on the effect of digital exclusion on schoolchildren. That report said that

“digital inclusion must be seen as the cornerstone to ensuring social justice and equitable life chances for every child”.

Those words were written while the pandemic was at its peak and the long-term impact on education was still difficult to predict.

Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol highlights negative impact of lack of digital access for children”

Bishop of Bristol expresses strong concern over conflict in Gaza and calls for political leaders to work for peace

The Bishop of Bristol spoke in a debate on the current humanitarian situation in Gaza on 8th February 2024, expressing concern about the rejection of a proposed ceasefire and the impact of total war on civilians:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for securing this debate. Today the future seems bleak after Prime Minister Netanyahu, perhaps understandably, rejected a ceasefire because, as reported, total victory may be achieved in months. In my city of Bristol, women from Jewish and Muslim communities stand silently together in public vigil, and those of all faiths and none march each week campaigning for a cessation of violence on all sides.

Total victory within months—what does that mean for the hostages held in tunnels, for the women who are pregnant without medical support, for babies whose mothers have no breast milk? What we see is a horrible inversion of the word of the prophet Joel: the dreams of old men are shattered and the visions of young men are betrayed. The hopes of so many Jews, Muslims and Christians are destroyed. May God and our political leaders have mercy, source aid and work unrelentingly for peace.

Hansard

Bishop of Norwich calls for resourcing of medics and hospitals to address humanitarian situation in Gaza

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on the situation in Gaza on 8th February 2024, asking that the government give greater support to medics in Gaza and Israel to facilitate resupplying of hospitals in order to address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I visited Gaza on 4 October, just three days before Hamas’s evil attacks, to see the Anglican-run 80-bed al-Ahli hospital. The World Health Organization reported on Tuesday that there are 150 patients there—all are critically ill. Everyone is fearful, stressed and exhausted. Medical staff have been detained, shackled and blindfolded by the IDF, and, on release, they are deposited in Rafah and not allowed to return to the hospital. There is an urgent need for medical staff, fuel, food and critical medical supplies, such as bone stabilisers, antibiotics and anaesthetics, across Gaza’s hospitals. Will His Majesty’s Government hear the cries of medics in Gaza and press the State of Israel for the WHO to have sustained access to resupply hospitals across the Gaza Strip so that they can continue to function?

Hansard

Bishop of Bristol speaks in debate on workers and employment

The Bishop of Bristol spoke in a debate on a report from the Economic Affairs Committee on workers on 8th February 2024, emphasising the value of meaningful work and drawing attention to the findings of the Archbishops Commission on Families & Households:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, it is a pleasure to speak in this important debate about the nature of the UK workforce in a challenging economic climate. I pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Bridges, as have others, and all the members of the Economic Affairs Committee who worked to produce this report and have stimulated our thinking today.

On a personal note, having recently found it hard to recruit lay staff to my office in Bristol, I am very grateful for being informed by the report we are debating today. At the heart of my diocese, you can find the New Room, the chapel where John Wesley led the first Methodist congregation from 1739. As part of his pioneering ministry, he offered “Rules of a Helper” to ordained Ministers, the first of which is:

“Never be unemployed a moment, never be triflingly employed, never while away time”.

While the word “unemployed” might have pricked the ears of your Lordships in the context of this debate, the final clause may be the significant one here. In effect, we are reminded about the importance of using our time on earth well. There is work to be done, good news to share and disciples to be made. Wesley was on to something. There is great purpose and fulfilment to be found in using our time well, maximising our skills and ensuring we fulfil our potential. It enriches our lives and the lives of our community, and that is central to my remarks today.

Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol speaks in debate on workers and employment”

Bishop of St Albans queries claims relating to baptism of asylum seekers

On 8th February 2024, The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on the recent claim by a member of the House of Commons that the Church of England was “facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims,”, pointing out the lack of evidence for this and the Church of England’s duty to administer sacraments such as baptism:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, both the Church of England and my most reverend friend the Archbishop of Canterbury have repeatedly said that we want the boats to stop, criminal gangs to be prosecuted and people to be held accountable if they commit offences. We note that a prominent Member in the other place recently said that the Church is

“facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims”,

which has been widely reported in the press. Administering the sacrament of baptism is one of the core duties of the clergy. Given that, what is the evidence to substantiate claims that baptism is being used systematically and extensively to support asylum claims? If the Minister cannot give me that information now—I understand that it is a big ask—can he please write to me? We would like to see the evidence.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans queries claims relating to baptism of asylum seekers”

Bishop of St Albans asks about foreign language education

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question during a debate on education standards, 8th February 2024, pointing out a decline in foreign language education on and advocating for more support for language clubs and extracurricular opportunities:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, what is not being mentioned is the massive decline in the teaching of foreign languages, at the very point when we are trying to engage worldwide with new trade deals—and, indeed, with our position in the world. What are His Majesty’s Government doing to address this, and can they also look at some of the very creative language clubs and so on that can be added on after school? These are often ways of exploring languages without loading the main curriculum even further.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about foreign language education”

Bishop of Durham asks about tensions between Burundi & Rwanda

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 8th February 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the border closure and the deteriorating relations between Rwanda and Burundi; and what steps they are taking to help prevent tension in the region from further escalating.

Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about tensions between Burundi & Rwanda”

Bishop of Chelmsford asks about conditions for migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 7th February 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that residents on the Bibby Stockholm can access outside space and the surrounding community without requiring inspection by staff or the use of scanners each time.

Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about conditions for migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge”

Bishop of Newcastle asks about funding for restoration of the Tyne Bridge

The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answer on 7th February 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the £41.4 million funding they have promised for the restoration of the Tyne Bridge will be released in time for the works to completed for its centenary in 2028.

Continue reading “Bishop of Newcastle asks about funding for restoration of the Tyne Bridge”

Bishop of St Albans asks about delivery of food vouchers to Rohingya refugees

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 7th February 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they will consider increasing their funding for the World Food Programme to enable the Programme to restore its monthly food vouchers for Rohingya refugees to the full value of 12.50 US dollars.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about delivery of food vouchers to Rohingya refugees”