On 14th November 2018 the House of Lords paid tribute to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Hon Justin Welby, spoke on behalf of the Bishops’ Benches:
Continue reading “Archbishop pays tribute to HRH the Prince of Wales on his 70th birthday”
On 13th November 2018 the House of Lords debated the Chancellor’s Budget Statement. The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, spoke in the debate to highlight concerns about the environment, the two-child limit and fixed odds betting terminals.
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, for many on these Benches there are measures to welcome in this Budget: for instance, the decision to increase the work allowances within universal credit for families with children and people with disabilities, as other noble Lords have mentioned. This goes a substantial way towards reversing the cuts announced in 2015. Likewise, the announcement of measures to aid the transition to universal credit, worth £1 billion over five years, is also welcome, as is the additional and non-repayable run-on support for new claimants to help people manage during the five-week waiting period before their first payment. However, I am disappointed that the run-on support does not cover the child elements of universal credit. Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford – Budget is missed opportunity for environment”
On Tuesday 13th November a reception was held in Parliament with bishops and the First and Second Church Estates Commissioners, to celebrate the role of women in the church and public life, and to mark UK Parliament Week and the centenary of women getting the vote. The Bishops of London, Gloucester and Bristol, and the First Church Estates Commissioner Loretta Minghella, were asked questions by Second Estates Commissioner Dame Caroline Spelman MP and an audience of parliamentarians and clergy.
On 13th November 2018 Lord Vaux of Harrowden asked the Government ‘whether they have any plans to restrict or ban the advertising or sale of flavoured nicotine vaping fluids.’ The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a follow-up question, which is in context below:
Baroness Thornton (Lab): The noble Lord, Lord Vaux, asked a legitimate Question about the flavoured nicotine substitutes that are on sale. If the Minister believes that we might see the emergence of vape flavours such as unicorn milk and rocket popsicles—which can only be designed to appeal to young people—can he confirm that the Government have plans for dealing with that?
Lord O’Shaughnessy: I am not sure who unicorn milk would appeal to—maybe my five year-old, but she is not smoking yet. Seriously, the point here is about advertising. It is quite right that they cannot be advertised to promote them but they can be advertised for public health reasons. They are incredibly effective at stopping people smoking. As I have said, we are not seeing the kind of abuse and the epidemic of youth usage that we have seen in the States, but we are alert to any signs that that may be the case.
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, the Minister’s joke makes the point. Does he agree that such flavours appeal to children and one needs to be careful about that? Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford warns about appeal to children of flavoured nicotine substitutes”
On 13th November 2018 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on the death penalty:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many individuals have been deported from the UK to countries where people can be sentenced to death without a death penalty assurance being sought since 2001. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about deportations to countries where death penalty might be used”
This week in Parliament the Bishop of St Albans asked questions of the Government about knife crime and British arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered questions on clergy carers. Parliament rose on Tuesday evening for the short November recess. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 5th-9th November 2018”
On 6th November 2018 the Earl of Sandwich asked the Government “what steps they are taking to help end the famine caused by the war in Yemen.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow-up question:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, what representations have Her Majesty’s Government made to the KSA and UAE about the use of British-built military hardware, which some people are really concerned could be used for, as is being alleged, war crimes? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about use of British-built military hardware by Saudia Arabia and UAE”
On 5th November 2018 the Second Church Estates Commissioner Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP answered two written question from Rachael Maskell MP on clergy carers.
Continue reading “Church Commissioner written answers: Carers”
On 5th November 2018, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, tabled a Private Notice Question ‘To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of four fatal stabbings in London in the last week, what action is being taken to address the dramatic rise in knife crime in that city and in the rest of the United Kingdom.’ The exchanges and supplementary questions from other members can be found below: Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about tackling rise in knife crime”
This week in the House of Lords bishops asked questions about support for children with a parent in prison, the delay in lowering the stakes on betting machines, and on rail fares. They spoke in debates on problem gambling and the impact on family life of reductions in welfare benefits. The Bishop of Newcastle welcomed the creation of the new North of Tyne combined authority.
Continue reading “Week in Westminster 29th October – 2nd November”
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