parliamentaryunit

Bishop of Manchester asks about cost of living impacts for benefits recipients

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on changes to the universal credit system during a discussion on welfare reform on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I am glad to hear that the Minister is so passionate about this and that, overall, this is taking place. As part of that, however, the Trussell Trust tells me that the majority of people who go to food banks are already on universal credit. Are the Government going to look at what it actually costs to survive in this country so that that can be factored into what levels of universal credit people are going to be getting?

Bishop of Southwark asks about Israeli activities in the West Bank

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with the government of Israel regarding the threat made by the Israeli Minister of Finance to take control of Solomon’s Pools in Area A of the West Bank.

Bishop of Sheffield asks about immigration and asylum legislation and policy

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answers on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to implement the recommendation of the recent report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration to introduce a Senior Civil Servant quality lead to spearhead the re-establishment of the quality agenda in the training and mentorship of asylum caseworkers.

Bishop of Peterborough asks about closure of youth centres

The Bishop of Peterborough received the following written answer on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Peterborough asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of youth club closures on levels of anti-social behaviour and youth offending in England.

Baroness Twycross (Lab, DCMS): DCMS published research in 2024 that found decreased investment in youth provision correlates with rises in shoplifting, bike theft, and reoffending among young offenders aged 15-17.

Bishop of Chelmsford asks about international commitments on refugees

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:

what steps they are taking to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
what resources they are providing UNHCR to (1) support refugees, displaced and stateless peoples, and (2) renew international commitments to refugee protection.

Bishop of Norwich asks about environmental impact of data centres

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 1st September 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the water usage requirements of large-scale data centres, particularly in times of drought.

Conduct of Undercover Policing and Surveillance Operatives Bill: Bishop of Newcastle speaks on importance of ethics in police work

The Bishop of Newcastle spoke at the second reading of the Conduct of Undercover Policing and Surveillance Operatives Bill on 17th July 2026, emphasising the importance of trust and ethics in police work:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, for bringing this Bill before your Lordships’ House. It is an honour to follow the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, in this debate. I acknowledge the contributions from your Lordships who have drawn on their expertise and experience, which is far beyond my own.

Before turning to the substance of the Bill, which I support, I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary service that our police officers give to this country. In doing so, I pay tribute to PC Jess Turnbull of Northumbria Police, who tragically died in the line of duty at just 19 years of age. Her funeral was held in Newcastle Cathedral last Friday. We continue to hold her family, friends and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers, giving thanks for her life and her willingness to serve others at such a young age. Her death reminds us that policing is a vocation of public service, often carried out at great personal cost. It is in that spirit that I approach the Bill.

Genocide Determination Bill: Bishop of Newcastle speaks in support of legislation

On 17th July 2026, the Bishop of Newcastle spoke at the second reading of the Genocide Determination Bill, expressing her support for the bill and the principle of the equal worth of human lives:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Alton of Liverpool, for introducing this Bill, which I support, and for his unwavering commitment over many years to the prevention of genocide, the protection of persecuted communities and the advancement of human rights.

At the heart of the Bill lies a simple yet profound principle that every human life possesses equal and inherent worth. There is a clear inconsistency in our present arrangements. Successive Governments have rightly maintained that genocide is a matter for a competent court. However, in practice, the international courts capable of making such determinations are not always able to do so because of jurisdictional limitations or political deadlock. The result is that credible allegations of the gravest crime recognised in international law may never receive judicial determination. The noble Lord, Lord Wills, made this point compellingly in his speech.

Bishop of Peterborough asks about impact of increase in mental health conditions on education

The Bishop of Peterborough received the following written answer on 17th July 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of increasing rates of probable mental health conditions among young people on academic attendance and attainment in England.

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