Author: parliamentaryunit

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about gambling by students and young people

On 20th March 2019 the Bishop of St Albans Rt Revd Alan Smith, received written answers to three questions on gambling, students and young people:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:

HL14424

(i) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the National Union of Students’ gambling survey, published on 25 February, that (1) three in five students have gambled in some way over the past 12 months, (2) almost one in ten have used all or some of their student loan to gamble, and (3) four per cent of respondents owed over £20,000 as a result of gambling.

(ii) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the National Union of Students’ gambling survey, published on 25 February, that 29 per cent of respondents were under the age of 16 when they had first gambled.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about gambling by students and young people”

Votes – Offensive Weapons Bill

On 19th March 2019 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Offensive Weapons Bill. A vote took place on an amendment to the Bill, in which two bishops took part: Continue reading “Votes – Offensive Weapons Bill”

Bishop of St Albans asks if DfID will work with churches on relief effort following Cyclone Idai

On 19th March 2019 Lord Elton asked the Government “what response the UK is making to help address the impact of Cyclone Idai in parts of southern Africa”. The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, such is the devastation that reports are only slowly coming in from some of the most damaged areas. We are hearing reports from a number of the Anglican dioceses in different parts of the Communion and from a number of bishops, including Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, who has launched an appeal and is mobilising people on the ground. Will the Minister assure us that DfID will work closely with those networks and organisations on the ground, such as the dioceses and the Christian communities which have the networks in place and know what is going on locally? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks if DfID will work with churches on relief effort following Cyclone Idai”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about plans to address decline in bee population

On 19th March 2019 Baroness Boycott asked the Government “what plans they have to deal with the decline in the insect population.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, will the Government’s environmental land management schemes specifically have a long-term strategy to address the decline in pollinators, particularly bees?

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about plans to address decline in bee population”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about legally binding targets on air pollution

On 19th March 2019 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on air pollution:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans:

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To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to setting legally binding targets to meet WHO-recommended limit values for particulate matter across the UK, and if consideration has been given, when the targets will be implemented. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about legally binding targets on air pollution”

Bishop of Durham asks Government about arrangements for refugee family reunion after Brexit

On 18th March 2019 the House of Lords debated a Motion to Approve the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, spoke in the debate:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, it is striking how small a part asylum and resettlement have played in the conversation about a post-Brexit immigration system. Assuming—and praying—that we do not leave without a deal, I hope that discussion of these vital areas will not be limited to the margins of an already limited engagement with the immigration White Paper and the SIs. I have a series of questions for the Minister.

It might just be me, but I often struggle to see evidence of the Home Office applying the family test in SIs and other areas. Can the Minister assure me that the family test has been applied to these SIs?

Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government about arrangements for refugee family reunion after Brexit”

Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about environmental standards of new homes

On 18th March 2019 the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, received a written answer to a question on environmental standards for building new homes:

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury:

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To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to support housing developers and homeowners to improve the environmental standards of new homes; and what steps they are taking to improve the environmental impact of existing housing stock. Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about environmental standards of new homes”

Week in Westminster 11th-15th March 2019

This week in the House of Lords bishops spoke on Brexit and asked questions about prisoner rehabilitation, and the separation barrier in Israel. Bishops voted on amendments to the Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill, Trade Bill and House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered written questions on Christ Church Oxford and Bishop George Bell. Continue reading “Week in Westminster 11th-15th March 2019”

Votes: House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill

On 15th March 2019 the House of Lords considered the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill [HL]. In order to bring debate to an end on a particular amendment to the Bill, Lord Cormack moved ‘that the question be now put’. The House divided:

Contents: 89 | Not Contents: 23 | Result: N/A

The Bishop of St Albans voted Content.

Votes: Trade Bill

On 13th March 2019 the House of Lords considered amendments to the Trade Bill. Two Bishops voted on an amendment moved by Lord Fox. 

Lords voting Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

Lord Fox moved amendment 24. Insert the following new clause:

“Trade agreement with the EU: mobility framework
It shall be the objective of the Secretary of State to take all necessary steps to
secure an international trade agreement with the European Union which
includes a mobility framework that enables all UK and EU citizens to exercise
the same reciprocal rights to work, live and study for the purpose of the
provision of trade in goods or services.”

Continue reading “Votes: Trade Bill”