Author: parliamentaryunit

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Leeds supports UK welcome for lone child refugees

On 26th April 2016 the House of Lords considered amendments made in the House of Commons to the Government’s Immigration Bill. Labour Peer Lord Dubs proposed an amendment (as an alternative to his previous one, rejected by MPs), that would require the Government to “make arrangements to relocate to the United Kingdom and support a specified number of unaccompanied refugee children from other countries in Europe”. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, spoke in support of the amendment:

LeedsThe Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, I was recently in northern Iraq, visiting internally displaced people and Syrian refugees. In a meeting with the United Nations office for the co-ordination of humanitarian aid, we were told that despite the generosity promised by many international donors, only 9% of the money had actually got through. That was not specifically applied to the UK. I do not know how much of the UK’s promised aid has gone but it was 9% overall. So when we hear about the amount of money that has been promised, it does not tell us how much has been delivered. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Leeds supports UK welcome for lone child refugees”

Divisions: Immigration Bill

On 26th April 2016 a number of votes took place in the House of Lords on the Government’s Immigration Bill, during debates on motions whether to accept or reject amendments made in the House of Commons. The Bishops of Durham and Leeds took part in the Divisions of the House: Continue reading “Divisions: Immigration Bill”

Divisions: Energy Bill

On 26th April 2016 a vote took place on an amendment to the Government’s Energy Bill, proposed as an alternative to that agreed by the House of Commons. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, took part: Continue reading “Divisions: Energy Bill”

Bishop of Leeds asks Government about support for victims of Daesh and recording of atrocities

LeedsOn 26th April 2016 the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, received answers to two written questions about support to victims of Daesh and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s committee on genocide and committee on mass graves:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 5 April (HL7332), what financial assistance they have given to human rights defenders in Iraq to improve victim support and case documentation of sexual violence committed by Daesh. [HL7706] Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks Government about support for victims of Daesh and recording of atrocities”

Bishop of Southwarks asks Government about humanitarian aid to Iraq

Bp Southwark May 2015On 26th April 2016 the Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, received a written answer to a question on humanitarian aid to Iraq:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 1 April (HL7307), what steps they are taking with their international allies and partners to redress the financial shortfall in humanitarian assistance to Iraq. [HL7710] Continue reading “Bishop of Southwarks asks Government about humanitarian aid to Iraq”

Divisions: Housing and Planning Bill

On 25th April 2016 a number of votes took place on amendments to the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill at its Report Stage in the House of Lords. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, took part in three of the Divisions of the House: Continue reading “Divisions: Housing and Planning Bill”

Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of Leeds supports amendment on affordable rural housing

BpLeeds2On 25th April 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill at its Report Stage. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, spoke in support of an amendment to the Bill that had been co-sponsored by the Bishop of St Albans. In introducing the amendment, Labour Peer Baroness Royall said:

“This amendment does not in any way seek to undermine the Government’s plans to increase the number of homes built on small sites. We need more homes in rural areas. It merely seeks to ensure that local authorities will still be able to meet the affordable housing needs of their rural communities in ways appropriate to their circumstances.”

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, I support this amendment. My diocese covers vast and diverse rural areas. The issue that is constantly raised by those who live there is affordable housing for their children. We too often use the language of protection or preservation when we should be talking about development and creating the future. If we end up with small rural communities without young people in them, which in some cases is what is happening, we will have a problem 20, 30, 40 or 50 years down the line. I support the amendment and trust that we will give due attention to it. Continue reading “Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of Leeds supports amendment on affordable rural housing”

Bishop of Leeds seeks Government assurances over future of Bradford’s National Media Museum

LeedsOn 25th April 2016 Lord Stevenson of Balmacara asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the closures of regional museums, particularly in the North of England, and the impact of those closures on the United Kingdom’s creative industry and on the educational services provided to local schools and colleges.” The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, if the rhetoric about the northern powerhouse is to have any reality behind it, it has to include access to culture and cultural developments. In the light of that, will the Minister give an assurance that the sword of Damocles hanging over the National Media Museum in Bradford might at last be lifted? Sometimes up there it feels as if London is saying, “Out, damned spot!”. Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds seeks Government assurances over future of Bradford’s National Media Museum”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about support for prisoners at risk of suicide

StAlbans171115On 25th April 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on support for those at risk of suicide in prison:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent increases in the number of non-natural deaths in prisons; and what plans they have to improve mental health support for those in prison who are at risk of suicide. [HL7466] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about support for prisoners at risk of suicide”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 18th-22nd April 2016

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

This week bishops in the House of Lords spoke in favour of an amendment to the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill, in a debate on the BBC Charter Review and paid tribute to the Queen on her 90th birthday. Bishops also asked questions about offshore tax arrangements, Burundi and Daesh in Iraq.

 

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 18th-22nd April 2016”