The Bishop of Bristol received the following written answer on 7th February 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Bristol asked His Majesty’s Government how many people who have arrived into the UK illegally since 1 January 2022 and who would therefore be eligible for removal to Rwanda have been referred to the National Referral Mechanism for modern slavery.
Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks about modern slavery referrals for migrants arriving illegally in the UK”The Bishop of St Albans tabled a question on the state of local authority finances on 6th February 2024, pointing out the need for long term planning of financial strategies to allow local authorities to better implement their spending:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the state of the finances of local authorities.
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name and declare my interest, as set out in the register, as a vice-president of the Local Government Association.
Baroness Penn (Con): We have listened carefully to local authorities about the pressure that they are facing. That is why we have announced that the final local government finance settlement for 2024-25 will now make available £64.7 billion, an increase of 7.5% in cash terms on last year and above inflation. The department continually monitors the local government sector through data and direct engagement with individual councils. This includes considering the impact of inflation and wider economic circumstances.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about state of local authority finances in the UK”The Bishop of Bristol asked a question on the importance of de-carbonising heating on 6th February 2024, asking whether the government would refute speculation that they were considering a U-turn on this policy:
The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, as the Minister will know, net zero is impossible without decarbonising heating. The clean heat market mechanism is a crucial part of that. Does he recognise its importance? Will he refute media speculation that the Government are considering a U-turn on it? Will he make representations to boiler manufacturers that are unfairly passing these costs on to consumers?
Lord Douglas Miller (Con): Again, I will write to the right reverend Prelate in due course. I am doing rather a lot of writing today, am I not? This is a broad subject which I am slowly getting my head around.
The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 6th February 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what financial assistance they are providing to support projects undertaken by faith groups and others to support ecosystem conservation, protection and restoration internationally.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Norwich asks about assistance for faith groups working in conservation and environmental restoration”The Bishop of Bristol, on behalf of the Bishop of Gloucester and the Bishop of London, spoke in support of two amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill on 5th February 2024, one aimed at improving conditions for migrant victims of domestic violence, and another on ensuring that data on victims of crime not be shared with immigration enforcement authorities:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, I rise to speak on behalf of two of my colleagues who have supported amendments in this group. My right reverend friend the Bishop of Gloucester regrets that she cannot be in her place to add her voice in support of Amendment 80, which concerns a cause on which she has long been an advocate. She tabled an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill, with cross-party support in 2021. Advocates have campaigned for 30 years to improve conditions for migrant women who have no recourse to public funds and who are victims of domestic abuse. While there has been some progress, including the introduction of the domestic violence indefinite leave to remain rule and the destitution domestic violence concession, there is still much more to be done to make sure that victims of domestic abuse with no recourse to public funds, or who are undocumented, are eligible for those schemes. Victims face an impossible choice: domestic abuse or deportation and destitution. Many are unable even to enter a women’s refuge; they cannot pay their rent or living costs as they are not eligible for housing or other social security benefits.
Continue reading “Victims and Prisoners Bill: Bishop of Bristol supports amendments focused on protecting migrant victims of crime”On 5th February 2024, the House of Lords debated the Victims and Prisoners Bill in Committee. The Bishop of Manchester spoke on two amendments he had tabled, aimed at enabling increased collaboration between statutory and community bodies in the victim support sector:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I rise to speak to Amendments 56 and 59 in my name; I also support the other amendments in this group. These amendments would all help to firm up the very good intentions set out in Clauses 12 and 13.
In an earlier group, I tabled an amendment to ensure that victim support services were properly signposted; it is no use a service existing if the people it is meant to serve are not able to access it. But now we come to, if anything, a more fundamental point: how do we ensure that the right services exist for victims, and in each and every part of the country?
The Bill as drafted gets much right: it requires policing bodies, integrated care boards and local authorities to collaborate in assessing the needs of victims, producing a published strategy and, indeed, revising that strategy as occasion requires—so far, so good. But, as things stand, and as the noble Lord, Lord Russell of Liverpool, has indicated, that assessment and strategy could be little more than a combination of the unaffordable and the non-existent—a bit like an overambitious child’s Christmas wish list.
Continue reading “Victims and Prisoners Bill: Bishop of Manchester tables amendments to bolster victim support organisations”The Bishop of Bristol asked a question on progress in early detection of osteoporosis on 5th February 2024, during a debate on plans to invest in NHS Fracture Liaison Services in England:
The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Black, for his dedicated work in bringing this important topic to the attention of the House. Around this time a year ago, the noble Lord asked another Question on the early detection of osteoporosis, which is the leading cause of fractures in those aged over 50, particularly women. In his answer, the Minister, who is answering the Question again today, noted that
“a fractured femur is the second biggest reason for intake into hospitals, in terms of beds”—[Official Report, 19/1/23; col. 1926]
and that he would be happy to report on progress on this to the House. Will he tell us whether any progress has been made since he gave that answer one year ago?
Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks about early detection methods for osteoporosis”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 5th February 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, in their capacity as penholder for Myanmar at the UN Security Council, to help find solutions to the Rohingya refugee crisis, and particularly to create the conditions necessary for safe, dignified, and voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about UK efforts to help resolve the Rohingya refugee crisis”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 5th February 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con, Treasury): The Government recognises the vital role SMEs play in fuelling economic growth, and it is important they can access the banking services they need.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about access to bank accounts and services for small businesses”The Bishop of London spoke in a debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 2nd February 2024, on the themes of the fragility of freedom and the need to challenge prejudice in all forms:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I start by thanking noble Lords for their contributions to this debate, and in particular those to whom the Holocaust and anti-Semitism continue to give deep, personal pain. I know that not only speaking in but listening to this debate will cause them greater concern and pain, so I thank them so much. It is a particular honour to follow the noble Lord, Lord Dubs, and the noble Baroness, Lady Anderson, whom I thank so much for what they said.
Last week, it was my privilege to be at the ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Day at the Guildhall in the City, along with a number of noble Lords. Those who were there could not help but be moved by the stories that people recalled. We recalled the murder of so many people in not only the Holocaust but the other genocides since: Darfur, Rwanda, Bosnia and Cambodia, to name but a few: each person loved; each person known; each person missed and each person grieved for. Their loss makes the world a poorer place, even decades later.
Continue reading “Bishop of London takes part in debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day”
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