parliamentaryunit

Bishop of St Albans asks about role of faith networks in vaccine rollout

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on the efficacy of faith networks to communicate vaccine availability on 11th February 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: I too add my congratulations to Her Majesty’s Government on an extraordinarily rollout of the vaccines. I pay tribute to all those involved, not least one group not often mentioned —the practice managers, who often work through the night. Can the Minister comment on the community champions scheme? Faith leaders across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, where I live, have been waiting to use our huge, extensive network of people on the ground to communicate with hard-to-reach groups, such as ethnic minorities and so on. Only now are we being brought into that opportunity. Will the Government commit to working with us, since we are keen to use all our resources to help get those messages out to those hard-to-reach groups?

Bishop of Coventry asks about recent coup in Myanmar

The Bishop of Coventry asked a question on resolution to the recent military coup in Myanmar, on 11th February 2021, highlighting the role of civic and religious leaders in the country in calling for peace and dialogue:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: My Lords, will the Minister join me in paying tribute to the civic and religious leaders in Myanmar, including the respected Buddhist monk, Myawaddy Sayadaw, who is now in prison, and Cardinal Charles Bo, the Archbishop of Yangon, whose published message last week spoke out strongly against the coup, called for the release of everyone who had been detained, and implored demonstrators to remain non-violent? Given the cardinal’s words to the international community that

“Engaging the actors in reconciliation is the only path”,

Votes: Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Claimants previously entitled to a severe disability premium) Amendment Regulations 2021

On 11th February 2021, the House of Lords debated the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (Claimants previously entitled to a severe disability premium) Amendment Regulations 2021. A vote was held on a regret motion to the regulations, in which Bishops took part.

Bishop of Coventry asks about ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh region

The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answer on 11th February 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of ethnic cleansing in the Nagorno-Karabakh region; and what discussions they have had with the government of Azerbaijan about the use of derogatory language that could increase the risk of conflict in that region.

Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of Gloucester supports amendment on statutory guidance on domestic abuse

On 10th February 2021, the Bishop of Gloucester spoke in support of an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill tabled by Baroness Lister which would require the statutory guidance in the bill to take into account the government’s Violence Against Women and Girls strategy:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, I metaphorically rise to speak to Amendment 185. I am very grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, for outlining the issues so clearly. It is a real honour to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Hodgson, and I am delighted to have added my name to Amendment 185. I do not want to repeat what they have eloquently said already, all of which I agree with.

The UK is party to international treaties and conventions that make it clear that we must deliver a co-ordinated response and integrated measures to end violence against women and girls. Amendment 185, as we have heard, simply seeks to ensure good join-up: the statutory guidance issued alongside the Bill must be linked to any violence against women and girls framework.

Bishop of Coventry asks about UK aid to Yemen and arms sales to Saudi Arabia

The Bishop of Coventry asked a question on UK aid to Yemen and government policies on arms sales to Saudi Arabia on 10th February 2021, following a government statement on the humanitarian situation in Yemen:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: My Lords, the United Nations predicts that the number of Yemenis experiencing famine-like conditions will reach 47,000 by June, nearly triple that of December. In the light of the signals that US policy towards Yemen is changing, as we have heard, and the upcoming aid review, will the Government commit to at least maintaining their current aid commitments to Yemen? Further to earlier questions, does the Minister agree that the public find it hard to understand how the Government intend to reconcile their role of being both arms seller to Saudi Arabia and peacemaker and aid-giver in Yemen?

Bishop of St Albans asks about actions of companies supporting the Beijing Winter Olympics

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on possible sanctions or boycotts against companies supporting the Beijing Winter Olympics in light of human rights abuses by China on 10th February:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: My Lords, I am sure none of us wants to see a boycott of the Winter Olympics, yet we are seeing unprecedented human rights abuses and we will be judged by future generations on how we respond. Have Her Majesty’s Government considered what actions they might take against companies that are either official sponsors, suppliers or partners of these Games and that are bidding for public contracts?

Archbishop of Canterbury asks about construction of affordable housing

The Archbishop of Canterbury received the following written answer on 10th February 2021:

The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether their target for the number of affordable homes that they want to see built is sufficient to meet the demand for such homes.

Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendments on evidentiary standards

On 9th February 2021, the House of Lords debated the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill in committee. The Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of amendments on standards of proof and suspicion of guilt, raising issues of bias and risks of alienation:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester [V]: My Lords, I draw the Committee’s attention to my interest in criminal justice matters, specifically as chair of the Greater Manchester Police independent ethics committee, as set out in the register.

I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Falconer, for tabling Amendment 28. I also note with interest Amendment 27 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Anderson. His arguments are powerful, not least in distinguishing clearly between belief and a mere suspicion, a distinction which for me as a bishop lies at the heart of my day job.

As I indicated to your Lordships’ House in my maiden speech at Second Reading, this is a Bill that I welcome and support. My city of Manchester has all too recently suffered a terrorist attack that killed 22 innocent people and maimed and traumatised hundreds more. We remain deeply grateful for the support we received from members of this House, government Ministers and many others at that time and since.

Votes: Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill

On 9th February 2021, the House of Lord debated the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: