Author: parliamentaryunit

Housing Bill: Bishop of St Albans puts amendment to require assessment of needs of Gypsies and Travellers

On 17th March 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill in committee. The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, spoke to an amendment he had tabled, which was co-sponsored by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Williams of Oystermouth. The amendment, to clause 115 of the Bill, concerned the requirement on local authorities to assess the needs of Gypsies and Travellers. It was withdrawn after debate, as is usual at committee.The Bishops’ speech and the Minister’s response are below:

THE LORD BISHOP OF ST ALBANS
BARONESS BAKEWELL OF HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE
BARONESS WHITAKER
LORD WILLIAMS OF OYSTERMOUTH

82H Page 53, line 1, leave out subsection (2)

 

StAlbans171115The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I shall speak to Amendment 82H, which has broad support across this House. This is a simple probing amendment that would seek to retain Sections 225 and 226 of the Housing Act 2004 in legislation, requiring local authorities to undertake a direct assessment of Gypsy and Traveller needs. I shall also speak to Amendment 82GD, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Beecham, which may point towards an alternative way forward. Continue reading “Housing Bill: Bishop of St Albans puts amendment to require assessment of needs of Gypsies and Travellers”

Bishop of St Albans praises work of credit unions in schools

On 17th March 2016  Lord Young of Cookham asked Her Majesty’s Government, “following their announcement concerning the Help to Save scheme, how many people in work and receiving either Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit are expected to benefit from that scheme.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:

Bishop St Albans June 2015The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, will the Minister affirm the importance, in addition to the Help to Save scheme, of the increasing number of credit unions which routinely go into schools to try and create a culture of saving from the very earliest age, to address the endemic problem of a presupposition of debt? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans praises work of credit unions in schools”

Church Commissioners’ Questions: mission, help for work, sustainable energy, women’s leadership, cathedrals

On 17th March 2016 MPs put questions to Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, representing the Church Commissioners. Questions were asked on mission in deprived areas, helping ex-offenders into work, sustainable energy, women’s leadership in the church and the contribution of cathedrals to cultural and economic life. A transcript is below.

Spelman CCQs June 2015 4 Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ Questions: mission, help for work, sustainable energy, women’s leadership, cathedrals”

Division: Trade Union Bill- Electronic voting

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

On the 16th March 2016 Lord Kerslake moved an amendment to the Government’s Trade Union Bill regarding the introduction of electronic voting for the purpose of ballots held before any trade union action.The Bishop of Chester took part.

Lord Kerslake moved amendment 3, after clause 3, to insert the new clause Electronic balloting Provision for electronic balloting: review and piloting scheme. The House divided: Continue reading “Division: Trade Union Bill- Electronic voting”

Division: Renewables Obligation Closure Etc. (Amendment) Order 2016

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

On the 16th March 2016 Baroness Featherstone moved a motion to regret the Renewables Obligation Closure Etc. (Amendment) Order 2016. A vote was called and the Bishop of Salisbury took part.

Division Result:

Contents: 153 | Not Contents: 144 | Result: Government Defeat

The Bishop of Salisbury voted Content.

(Via Parliament.UK)

Bishop of Salisbury urges a rethink on Government renewable energy proposals

On the 16 March 2016 the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtham, took part in a debate to approve the Government’s draft Renewables Obligation Closure Etc. (Amendment) Order 2016. Baroness Featherstone also tabled a Motion to Regret the change. The draft instrument closes the renewables obligation from 1 April 2016 (12 months early) to solar PV generating stations at 5 megawatts and below. It applies both to new generating stations and to existing stations that wish to add additional capacity up to the 5 megawatts threshold. The Bishop’s speech is below and the vote on the Regret Motion can be seen here.

Bp Salisbury 2The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, it is curious to rehearse the same arguments so soon after the recent debate on feed-in tariffs. It is very disappointing in the wake of the success in Paris of COP 21, and the enthusiasm engendered from that about a new level of ambition in response to human-caused climate change. I feel as though the Minister is in a position of defending the indefensible. The noble Baroness, Lady Byford, made a very good point about the place of subsidies and pump-priming. Therefore, it is disappointing that the Government are not working more effectively with the renewable energy sector to build on the considerable success of that industry.

Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury urges a rethink on Government renewable energy proposals”

Bishop of Durham calls on Government to speed up reception of unaccompanied refugee children

Bp Durham June 2015 bOn 16th March 2016 Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon asked Her Majesty’s Government “what is their assessment of the current refugee crisis in Europe in the light of the regional election results in Germany that indicate gains for the anti-migrant Alternative für Deutschland party.” The Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, asked a follow up question: 

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, does the Minister support the speeding-up of the reception of unaccompanied minors who have a family reunification right to come to this country? Will the Government explore further reunifications and accepting more unaccompanied minors into this country?

Continue reading “Bishop of Durham calls on Government to speed up reception of unaccompanied refugee children”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich backs move to extend transitional asylum support for those given leave to remain

14.06.12 Bishop of NorwichOn 15th March 2016, Baroness Lister moved an amendment to the Government’s Immigration Bill which would extend the period for those transitioning from asylum support to work or benefits from 28 to 40 days. The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of the amendment. Lord Bates responded on behalf of the Government. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich backs move to extend transitional asylum support for those given leave to remain”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich moves amendment requiring best interests assessment for refugee children

14.06.12 Bishop of NorwichOn 15th March, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, moved an amenment to the Immigration Bill that would ensure a best interests assessment was undertaken for an child separated from their parents due to an immigration appeal. Lord Keen of Elie responded on behalf of the Government.

Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich moves amendment requiring best interests assessment for refugee children”

Bishop of St Albans asks about the social impact of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals

On 15th March 2016, the Lord Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked the Government “what assessment they have made of the social impact of category B2 gaming machines.” The Earl of Courtown responded on behalf of the Government.

StAlbans171115

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the social impact of category B2 gaming machines. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about the social impact of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals”