Author: parliamentaryunit

Bishop of Bristol asks Government to tackle school holiday hunger and long term child poverty

On 27th October 2020 Lord Woolley of Woodford asked the Government “following the announcements of the Welsh and Scottish Governments, as well as local councils, whether they will end the free school meals postcode lottery and provide free school meals for eligible children in England during the school holidays until Easter 2021.” The Bishop of Bristol asked a follow-up question:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol [V]: My Lords, although I agree with the Government that free school meals are not the long-term solution for holiday hunger, the reality is that it is now half-term and children are going hungry. Does the Minister agree that although ​the current crisis demands short-term solutions, there is also a much bigger question at stake? Will she tell us what sustained support the Government will be offering to address the concerns up to Easter 2021, and their plans to tackle the underlying and increasing issues of child poverty in the longer term? Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks Government to tackle school holiday hunger and long term child poverty”

Bishop of Bristol asks Government about plans to help migrant women suffering domestic abuse

On 27th October 2020 Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate asked the Government “what steps they are taking to protect victims of domestic abuse.” The Bishop of Bristol asked as follow-up question:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol [V]: My Lords, I add my voice to the concerns raised by many others in this House about how migrant women will be affected by the Domestic Abuse Bill. I thank the Government for their £1.5 million commitment to support research into the particular needs of this vulnerable group, but how many women is the scheme expected to support and what specific questions will the pilot be seeking to answer? Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks Government about plans to help migrant women suffering domestic abuse”

Bishop of Carlisle asks Government about counselling and mediation services for divorcing couples

On 27th October 2020 the Bishop of Carlisle received a written answer to a question on counselling and mediation services for divorcing couples:

The Lord Bishop of Carlisle: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the passing of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 on 25 June, what information and guidance they plan to provide online about the availability of counselling and mediation services for couples going through the procedure of divorce. [HL9117] Continue reading “Bishop of Carlisle asks Government about counselling and mediation services for divorcing couples”

Bishop of Coventry asks about UK response capabilities to overseas violence and atrocities

On 27th October 2020 the Bishop of Coventry received written answers to two questions, on atrocity prevention training to UK embassy and diplomatic staff in fragile states, and on identity-based violence and the appointment of a Minister to act as a Special Envoy on Genocide:

Diplomatic Service: Training

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to provide atrocity prevention training to UK embassy and diplomatic personnel based in fragile states. [HL9121] Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about UK response capabilities to overseas violence and atrocities”

Bishop of Coventry asks about refugees from Myanmar and support for Rohingya communities in Southeast Asia

On 27th October 2020 the Bishop of Coventry received written answers to questions on refugees from Myanmar and support for Rohingya communities in Southeast Asia:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to provide (1) funding for, and (2) technical assistance, to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Trust Fund for Humanitarian Relief Efforts to promote regional cooperation for states addressing irregular migration from Myanmar. [HL9119]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government does not provide direct support to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Trust Fund for Humanitarian Relief Efforts. We do however provide broader technical assistance to the ASEAN humanitarian co-ordination centre to increase humanitarian capacity and co-ordination across ASEAN member states. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about refugees from Myanmar and support for Rohingya communities in Southeast Asia”

Bishop of Durham asks Government about access to computers for home learning use

On Monday 26th October Lord Carrington asked the Government “what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 catch-up premium on disadvantaged pupils.” The Bishop of Durham asked a further question:

The Lord Bishop of Durham [V]: My Lords, I declare my interests as set out in the register. I welcome the Government’s ongoing support of pupils through the catch-up premium and encourage the Minister to continue to give attention to disadvantaged pupils, who require significantly greater support than the average pupil. Given the specific difficulties relating to digital access for remote learning, can the Minister explain why access to computers for home use appears to have been drastically reduced just as schools have been legally required to provide online learning for those who have to stay at home? Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government about access to computers for home learning use”

Bishop of London asks Government how it will tackle social and economic inequalities in response to covid-19

On 26th October 202 the Bishop of London asked a question in the House of Lords that she had tabled, on covid-19 and social and economic inequalities. The exchanges and follow-up questions from other Members are reproduced below:

Lord Bishop of London: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that (1) social, and (2) economic, inequalities are addressed in their plans for economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baroness Penn (Con): My Lords, the Government have taken unprecedented action to keep people in work and to support businesses since the pandemic began. We are committed to carefully considering the social and economic impact of new policies and to tackling inequalities. Initiatives such as the Kickstart Scheme, the Job Support Scheme and enhanced welfare provision continue to support people, particularly those in groups at risk of higher unemployment due to the pandemic.

The Lord Bishop of London [V]: I thank the noble Baroness for her reply. Given the multiple layers of inequality that the pandemic is revealing, can the Minister tell the House whether Her Majesty’s Government will implement the recommendations made in the recent 10-year Marmot review and set up a taskforce that will focus on understanding the social and economic determinants of health from a holistic, society-wide perspective? Continue reading “Bishop of London asks Government how it will tackle social and economic inequalities in response to covid-19”

Bishop of St Albans asks about war crimes allegations against Syrian Army

On 26th October 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on alleged war crimes by the Syrian National Army.

Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 6 October (HL8334), what plans they have to disclose the government of Turkey’s response to the representations made by UK officials over allegations that the Syrian National Army may have committed war crimes against Kurdish civilians in Afrin and the surrounding area. [HL8990] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about war crimes allegations against Syrian Army”

Bishop of St Albans asks about spending in rural areas

On 26th October 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on public spending in rural areas:

Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 7 October (HL8550) and (HL8549), what plans they have to provide copies of the official-level guidance and templates setting out their priorities for the Comprehensive Spending Review; and how they will ensure that funding assessments are ‘rural proofed’ and do not unreasonably disadvantage rural communities. [HL8989] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about spending in rural areas”

Bishop of St Albans asks about economic and social impact of problem gambling

On 26th October 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on the social and economic impact of problem gambling:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the economic impact of problem gambling; and what estimate they have made of how likely problem gamblers are (1) to experience family break up, (2) to commit crime, (3) to be unemployed, (4) to lose their homes, and (5) to have compromised life expectancy, compared with the rest of the population. [HL9197] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about economic and social impact of problem gambling”