Author: parliamentaryunit

Bishop of Durham asks Government to take regional approach to phasing out Job Retention Scheme

On 13th May 2020 Lord Agnew of Oulton repeated a statement given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the COVID-19 economic support package. The Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, asked a follow up question:

Durham 1Lord Bishop of Durham: The extension of the JRS is extremely welcome. Here in the north-east, we have a worryingly high infection rate and among the highest average death rates per capita. Will Her Majesty’s Government consider taking a regional approach to phasing out the JRS, ensuring that the economic and social needs of each region are reflected adequately in the Government’s ongoing support?

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Bishop of Durham asks Government about families affected by two-child benefit limit due to Covid-19

On 13th May 2020 Baroness Lister of Burtersett asked the Government “what assessment they have made of the impact of the benefit cap on the incomes of Universal Credit claimants following the increase in the Universal Credit standard allowance announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 March”. The Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, asked a follow up question:

20.04.30 Durham 2

Lord Bishop of Durham: I thank the noble Baroness for again highlighting how the benefit cap is trapping families in poverty. In light of the report published last week by the Church of England and CPAG which estimates that around 60,000 more families will be affected by the two-child limit due to Covid-19, what assessment have Her Majesty’s Government made of the impact of this limit on families who have made a new universal credit claim since the lockdown?

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Bishop of Southwark asks Government about representations to Israel on West Bank settlements

800px-Official_portrait_of_The_Lord_Bishop_of_Southwark_(cropped)On 13th May, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, received a written answer from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on Israeli Settlements in the West Bank.

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: HL3520 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about its plans to commence discussions from 1 July on applying Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements and other territory in the occupied West Bank.

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Bishop of Southwark asks Government about discussions with EU and USA on West Bank settlements

On 13th May, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, received a written answer from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on Israeli Settlements in the West Bank.

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The Lord Bishop of Southwark: HL3521 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with (1) EU member states, and (2) the United States, about the government of Israel’s intention to commence discussions from 1 July on applying Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements and other territory in the occupied West Bank.

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Bishop of Southwark asks Government about impact of West Bank action on two-state solution

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On 13th May, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, received a written answer from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on Israeli Settlements in the West Bank.

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: HL3522 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of any decision by the government of Israel to unilaterally annex part of the West Bank after 1 July on the viability of a two-state solution.

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Bishop of Southwark asks Government about Israeli settlements in West Bank

800px-Official_portrait_of_The_Lord_Bishop_of_Southwark_(cropped)On 13th May, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, received a written answer from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on Israeli Settlements in the West Bank.

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: HL3523 To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 13 February (HL1282), what steps they intend to take in response to the government of Israel’s actions should it unilaterally annex parts of the West Bank.

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Bishop of Winchester asks Government about Covid-19 financial support package for universities

On 13th May, the Rt Revd Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, received a written answer from Lord Callanan on university finance.

800px-Official_portrait_of_The_Lord_Bishop_of_Winchester_(cropped)The Lord Bishop of Winchester: HL4052 To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement on 4 May of the support package for higher education providers as a result of the impact of COVID-19, what criteria they will use to provide research funding for universities; and how they will ensure (1) accessibility of the funding to a wide range of universities, and (2) diversity of institutional provision.

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Bishop of St Albans asks Government about NHS purchasing of UK dairy products

BishopAlanOn 13th May, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, received a written answer from Lord Bethell on the procurement of dairy products for the NHS.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: HL3809 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the percentage of dairy bought by the NHS in England in each of the last 12 months that was produced by UK dairy farmers.

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Bishop of Worcester asks Government about attacks on press freedom abroad during pandemic

On 13th May, the Rt Revd John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, received a written answer from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on the Government’s assessment of the restriction of journalism abroad.

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The Lord Bishop of Worcester: HL3569 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which countries have used COVID-19 as a pretext to introduce restrictive measures against independent media outlets and to arrest and intimidate journalists for providing critical coverage of the relevant government’s COVID-19 response.

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Bishop of Worcester asks about UK contribution to UN Covid-19 response plan

Official_portrait_of_The_Lord_Bishop_of_Worcester_crop_2On 13th May, the Rt Revd John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, received a written answer from Baroness Sugg on financial assistant the Government has given to the UN COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: HL3570 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial assistance they (1) have made, and (2) intend to make, to the United Nations COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.

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