Author: parliamentaryunit

Bishop of Leeds invokes 9th Commandment in discussion of Islam

On 30th April Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of figures from the Office for National Statistics showing that the Muslim population of England grew 10 times faster than the general population between 2001 and 2016; what is their estimate of future growth; and what is their assessment of the impact of that trend on the relationship between Sharia and domestic law.” The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, asked a follow-up question:

The Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, does the Minister agree that a prerequisite to any intelligent discussion of Islam or any other religion should pay attention to the ninth commandment, which is that you will not bear false witness against your neighbour?

Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds invokes 9th Commandment in discussion of Islam”

Bishop of Portsmouth asks about two-child limit and benefit cap

Portsmouth 150318On 30th April Baroness Lister of Buttersett asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the impact of the benefit cap on child and family wellbeing since that cap was lowered in 2016-17.'” The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Revd Christopher Foster, asked a follow-up question:

The Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, welfare reform was predicated on the principle that work should pay, but that principle is being undermined, not least by the two-child limit. In future, a family with three or more children seeking to avoid the cap by moving into work will find themselves subject to the two-child limit instead. They could end up losing out by going to work. What assessment have the Government made of the impact of this perverse incentive?

Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth asks about two-child limit and benefit cap”

Week in Westminster, 23rd – 27th April 2018

This week in the House of Lords bishops spoke in debates on the future sustainability of the NHS and on the Bat Habitats Regulation Bill, responded to a Government statement on immigration removal targets, and asked questions about social mobility, refugees and Gaza. Bishops also voted on amendments to the Government’s EU (Withdrawal) Bill. In the House of Commons Dame Caroline Spelman MP answered questions on behalf of the Church Commissioners on freedom of religion in the Commonwealth, rural schools, out of school settings, recycling and thefts from churches. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 23rd – 27th April 2018”

Bishop of Norwich welcomes Bat Habitats Regulation Bill

On 26th April 2018 the House of Lords debated the Bat Habitats Regulation Bill, a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Lord Cormack. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in favour of the Bill, explaining why bat roosts continued to be such a problem for medieval churches.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, we are indebted to the noble Lord, Lord Cormack, for the Bill. He has pursued a subject which I think can too easily be treated with mirth, but is not at all funny for those congregations in churches where bats sometimes rule the roost. It is reckoned that about 60% of all 16th-century or earlier churches have bat roosts. It is as significant as that. It is the nature of access to the roofs of medieval churches, I think, which causes the bats to go there, rather than their appreciation of our great, historic heritage. In a diocese such as mine, with 640 churches, of which 550 are medieval, there are places where the bat population outnumbers not simply the congregation but our total number of parishioners.

I used to recommend the regular use of incense, partly because I am very high church and love incense, and bats appear to be very Protestant, as they normally departed where incense was used. But even that is not now guaranteed to do the trick. Clearly, bats have gone up the candle in their churchmanship.

Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich welcomes Bat Habitats Regulation Bill”

Bishop of Norwich raises problems for Windrush generation with accessing help, offers services of churches

On 26th April 2018 the House of Lords heard the repeat of a Government answer to an urgent question on immigration removal targets. The Bishop of Norwich Rt Revd Graham James, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, yesterday there was a meeting here in Westminster of parliamentarians and representatives of the Church of England and of the black majority churches about the ongoing problems of the Windrush generation, some of which have been made more acute by the controversy over removal targets. Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich raises problems for Windrush generation with accessing help, offers services of churches”

Bishop of Carlisle calls for an independent office for health and care sustainability

On the 26th April 2018 the House of Lords debated a motion from Lord Patel “that this House takes note of the Report from the Select Committee on the Long-term Sustainability of the NHS, The Long-term Sustainability of the NHS and Adult Social Care (Session 2016-17, HL Paper 151).” The Bishop of Carlisle, Rt Revd James Newcome, who had served on the Select Committee, spoke in the debate:

The Lord Bishop of Carlisle: My Lords, like other noble Lords who have already spoken and who will speak in this debate, I had the great privilege of serving on the Select Committee that produced the report of which we are, I hope, taking note today. Like them, I pay tribute to my colleagues, from whom I learned a great deal, and to our excellent chairman, the noble Lord, Lord Patel.

Since the report was published, more than a year ago, I found myself presenting its findings in various venues in Cumbria, where I live and work. On some occasions, local Members of Parliament and senior NHS staff have also been involved, but on every occasion the interest generated has been huge, which is a reminder, should we need it, of the importance of this topic to every citizen in every part of this country. Continue reading “Bishop of Carlisle calls for an independent office for health and care sustainability”

Church Commissioner questions: religious freedom, schools, recycling, thefts from churches

On 26th April 2018, questions were put in the House of Commons to Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, representing the Church Commissioners. Dame Caroline was asked by MPs about freedom of religion in the Commonwealth, recycling, rural schools, out of school education settings and thefts from churches. A full transcript is below.

The right hon Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked— Continue reading “Church Commissioner questions: religious freedom, schools, recycling, thefts from churches”

Votes: EU (Withdrawal) Bill

On 25th April 2018 the House of Lords considered amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill at its Report Stage. A vote took place on an amendment to the Bill, on ‘Henry VIII’ powers of Government, in which three bishops took part:  Continue reading “Votes: EU (Withdrawal) Bill”

Dame Caroline Spelman MP hosts debate about Internally Displaced People

SpelmanMarriagedebate081215 b

On the 25th April the Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP hosted a debate in Westminster Hall to highlight the plight of Internally Displaced People. The Minister of State for the Department for International Development, the Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP responded to the debate on behalf of the Government. The full debate can be read using the link below.

 

Continue reading “Dame Caroline Spelman MP hosts debate about Internally Displaced People”

Bishop of Norwich asks question on Gaza

Norwich1710On 24th April Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty’s Government “what proposals they have for processes by which Israel might be held accountable for its treatment of the inhabitants of Gaza.” The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, asked a supplementary question:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, can the Minister say whether the Government support the UN Secretary-General’s call for an independent investigation into the recent bloodshed in Gaza? Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks question on Gaza”