parliamentaryunit

Bishop of St Albans welcomes commonwealth trade agreements

The Bishop of St Albans took part in a debate on new commonwealth trade agreements on 8th July 2021, welcoming the agreements and urging they be used as a force for positive social consequences:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I welcome Her Majesty’s Government’s intent to strengthen ties with the Commonwealth as we transition to our new reality outside the European Union. When we entered the European Common Market, we severed many tight economic ties with some of our Commonwealth partners. It is because of that that I am particularly pleased at the announcement of the economic partnership agreement with CARIFORUM, which covers many countries with whom we continue to share a head of state.

My diocese is linked with the Windward Islands, and we are glad to have a large community of Vincentians living in Luton. They have told me of the extraordinary economic disruption that occurred to them when we joined the EEC. Although many of these Commonwealth realm territories contained within the CARIFORUM agreement are small in GDP terms, there is a symbolic importance to this agreement, and I hope it will be a platform to further invest and engage culturally with these territories to strengthen our existing ties.

Bishop of Leeds asks about impact of cuts to overseas aid on freedom of religion and belief

During a debate on freedom of religion and belief internationally following an APPG report, the Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the impact cuts to overseas aid would have on countries such as Nigeria:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: I thank the Minister for the priority he gives to freedom of religion or belief, but Her Majesty’s Government are reducing aid to many countries and regions prone to serious freedom of religion or belief violations, including an apparent 58% cut in ODA to Nigeria while the country faces immense challenges due to a surge in religious-based violence. Will the Minister describe the anticipated impacts of these aid cuts on violence and stability in Nigeria and indicate how any such impacts might be mitigated?

Church Commissioners Written Questions: COVID-19, Vaccinations

On 8th July 2021, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Selaine Saxby MP (Con, North Devon): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of (a) the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on church parishes and (b) the support that dioceses will require to (i) recover and (ii) ease the legal and administrative burdens experienced by those parishes as a result of that outbreak.

Bishop of Leeds asks about religious freedom in Pakistan

The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 8th July 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked Her Majesty’s Government:

what steps they are taking to engage with (1) religious, and (2) belief, leaders in Pakistan about the state of freedom of (a) religion, and (b) belief, in that country; and what support they are providing to help those leaders address any matters of concern.
what discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan concerning the state of freedom of (1) religion, and (2) belief, in that country; and what support they have offered that government to protect those freedoms.

Bishop of Durham asks about healthcare costs for EU nationals resident in the UK

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 8th July 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government whether EU nationals living in the UK before 31 December 2020 and who go on to be granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will be liable for chargeable healthcare as set out in NHS Charging Regulations guidance or whether they are entitled to free healthcare.

Environment Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendments to preserve biodiversity

On 7th July 2021, the House of Lords debated the Environment Bill in the sixth day of the Committee stage. The Bishop of Manchester spoke in the debate, in support of a group of amendments aimed at preserving and protecting biodiversity in terms of land use regulations:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I draw your Lordships’ attention to my interests as set out in the register, specifically with the Church Commissioners—a significant owner of agricultural and development land. On matters of climate change, we are a leading edge and an awarding-winning investor, yet the Bill reminds us that climate is only part of the story.

Bishop of Ely urges statement of government support for Palestinian communities

The Bishop of Ely asked a question on the status of Palestinian land in the West Bank on 7th July 2021, urging that the government show support for the rights and aspirations of Palestinians, including Palestinian Christian communities:

The Lord Bishop of Ely: With little prospect of negotiations resuming, will the Minister accept that the continued settlement building programme amounts to an incremental and de facto annexation of the West Bank? The international community needs to promote the rights of all Palestinians, including the Christian community. Does the Minister agree that a strong endorsement of Palestinian aspirations by the Government would demonstrate to the Palestinian public the possibility of international political process and show that Her Majesty’s Government are committed to active peacemaking rather than merely to conflict management?

Bishop of Rochester asks about coronavirus regulations affecting communal singing and places of worship

Following a government update on COVID-19 in the UK on 6th July 2021, the Bishop of Rochester asked a question about regulations surrounding communal worship and singing in schools and religious settings:

The Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, while there continue to be understandable anxieties and not least concerns about potential pressures on the NHS, many will welcome the prospect of the removal of restrictions on gathering in a range of settings including, I note, for communal worship, singing and performances. Given the move from rule and regulation to guidance and good sense, do Her Majesty’s Government intend to issue any guidance specific to places of worship and in relation to communal singing in settings such as community choirs, other choral groups and schools, or is that to be left to the good sense of those responsible?

Bishop of Rochester asks about role of voluntary and community groups in Royal Commission on the Criminal Justice System

Following a question on the progress of the setting up of a Royal Commission on the Criminal Justice System on 6th July 2021, the Bishop of Rochester asked a question on whether voluntary and community organisations would have the opportunity to contribute to the work of the Commission:

The Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, I welcome the noble Lord’s Question. As one who is soon to depart this place, I hope that he continues to pursue this and other such matters with his customary vigour and determination. Noble Lords will know of the significant contribution of voluntary and charitable groups, including those which are faith based, to work in the criminal justice sector. Many of these organisations are keen for the work of the royal commission to proceed as soon as possible in order to provide a framework for future work. Can the Minister confirm that such groups will have an opportunity to contribute in a substantive way to the royal commission’s work?

Bishop of St Albans asks about rural housing

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 5th July 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to (1) review, and (2) update, what constitutes a designated ‘rural area’ within the terms of section 157 of the Housing Act 1985 with a view to including more smaller rural communities.

Lord Greenhalgh (Con): The areas set out under section 157 of the Housing Act 1985 are National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and areas designated as rural for the purposes of Right to Buy by the Secretary of State.

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