Author: parliamentaryunit

Week in Westminster, 6th-10th March 2017

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week in the House of Lords bishops spoke and voted on the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, the Criminal Finances Bill and proposed, spoke and voted on amendments to the  Higher Education and Research Bill. Bishops also spoke in debates on assisted suicide, and a Private Member’s bill on ratifying the Istanbul Convention on gender based violence.They asked questions about Vauxhall-Opel, food banks, unaccompanied child refugees, gender-based violence, fly-tipping, humanitarian aid and minorities returning to Iraq. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 6th-10th March 2017”

Bishop of St Albans supports Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill

On 10th March 2017 the House of Lords considered at Second Reading the Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill, a Private Member’s Bill that originated in the House of Commons, sponsored in the Lords by Baroness Gale. The Bishop of St Albans spoke in support of the Bill.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: We on these Benches also give our wholehearted support to the Bill. I have been following this issue for some while—indeed, I have participated in previous debate and tabled some Questions. I congratulate Dr Eilidh Whiteford in the other place and the noble Baroness, Lady Gale, on the hard work that they and others have done in getting the Bill so far, and the many agencies involved in getting it to us today, including IC Change. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans supports Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government about funding of faith-based organisations for humanitarian work in Iraq

On 9th and 10th March 2017 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions of Government about funding for humanitarian work by faith-based organisations in Iraq:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 20 February (HL5245), what steps they are taking to encourage faith-based organisations in Iraq to access UK funding through the UN-managed Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about funding of faith-based organisations for humanitarian work in Iraq”

Bishop of Oxford welcomes Criminal Finances Bill, calls for further action on tax transparency in UK overseas territories

On 9th March 2017 the House of Lords debated the Government’s Criminal Finances Bill at its Second Reading. The Bishop of Oxford, Rt Revd Steven Croft, spoke in the debate, supporting the Bill and calling for action on tax transparency in UK overseas territories and Crown dependencies.

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the Government for introducing this Bill. I support it. The Government have led on tackling corruption since the then Prime Minister set the issue of tax transparency at the heart of his G8 summit in 2013. He should also be thanked for hosting the anti-corruption summit in May last year. The Bill follows this good record and takes some further welcome steps to try to tackle corruption. The unexplained wealth orders will provide stronger powers for UK law enforcement to seize and repatriate the proceeds of grand corruption. The new corporate offences of failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion should be particularly praised because they will apply all over the world. I hope that in due course these offences will apply to all economic crime. Continue reading “Bishop of Oxford welcomes Criminal Finances Bill, calls for further action on tax transparency in UK overseas territories”

Bishop of Oxford asks Government about link between benefit delays and food bank use

On 9th March 2017 Labour Peer Baroness Sherlock asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the impact on claimants of the time taken between applying for Universal Credit and receiving payments.” The Bishop of Oxford, Rt Revd Steven Croft, asked a follow up question.

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, in the last three months I have visited a large number of food banks across the diocese of Oxford in seemingly affluent communities, building on my experience of food banks in the diocese of Sheffield. All have underlined to me that the most common reason why people access food banks is delay in accessing welfare payments. Continue reading “Bishop of Oxford asks Government about link between benefit delays and food bank use”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government about help for minority people in Iraq to return to their homes

On 9th March 2017 the Bishop of Coventry asked a question in the House of Lords that he had tabled, on help for displaced minority communities in Iraq. His question and follow-up, with those of other Members is reproduced below.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to help displaced minority communities in Iraq to return to their homes in areas liberated from Daesh.

The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Lord Bates) (Con): My Lords, UK aid is supporting vulnerable people, including minorities, to return to their homes in areas liberated from Daesh in Iraq. With UK funding, the UN is helping people to return home by restoring light infrastructure, re-opening hospitals and schools, and providing cash assistance to people who need to re-establish their livelihoods.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: I thank the Minister for his reply and pay tribute to the Government’s work thus far. The Minister may like to know that I was in Iraq in January and was gladdened by personal assurances from the President, the Prime Minister and the Iraqi authorities about their desire to rebuild the diverse fabric of the society. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about help for minority people in Iraq to return to their homes”

Votes: Higher Education and Research Bill

On 8th March 2017 the House of Lords voted on three amendments to the Government’s Higher Education and Research Bill. The Bishop of Oxford, the Bishop of Worcester, and the Bishop of Chester took part in the votes. Continue reading “Votes: Higher Education and Research Bill”

Higher Education and Research Bill: Bishop of Oxford moves amendment on Archbishop degree awarding powers

14.03.27 Bishop of SheffieldOn 8th March 2017, the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, moved an amendment on behalf of the Bishop of Winchester to the Government’s Higher Education and Research Bill. The amendment, which was accepted by the Government, meant that the Archbishop of Canterbury’s historic powers to award degrees would be unchanged by the Bill. 

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, my right reverend friend the Bishop of Winchester is unable to be in his place this evening, but I bring before your Lordships his Amendment 119A. I am grateful to the Minister for the constructive discussions we have had with him and his officials, and for co-sponsoring this amendment. Continue reading “Higher Education and Research Bill: Bishop of Oxford moves amendment on Archbishop degree awarding powers”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government to improve enforcement action against fly tipping

stalbans190117On 8th March, the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith asked Her Majesty’s Government ‘what further action they are taking to deal with the recent rises in fly-tipping.’ The exchange between the Bishop and the Minister is below, with the follow up questions from other Members.

The Lords Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. In so doing, I express my regret that I could not find a suitable topical for International Women’s Day.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government to improve enforcement action against fly tipping”

Bishop of Leeds asks question on male abusive behaviour

leeds-20117On 8th March 2017, Baroness Verma asked Her Majesty’s Government ‘what steps they are taking to help men who seek support in addressing their abusive behaviour’. The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, asked a follow up question.

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, does the Minister agree that there are certain problems in the wording of this Question? Most men who engage in abusive behaviour do not recognise it as abusive and do not seek support, so there has to be a very important balance between preventive and restorative measures.

Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks question on male abusive behaviour”