Author: parliamentaryunit

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich backs amendment on support for unaccompanied young people seeking asylum

On the 3rd February 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill in committee. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of an amendment from Lord Alton of Liverpool proposing the extension of Local Authority support for young people and care leavers seeking asylum.  The Bishop spoke about the danger of young people disappearing, without necessary support.  The amendment was withdrawn after debate.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I do not want to detain the Committee because we have heard the significance of these amendments, to some of which I have added my name. I want to follow what the noble Lord, Lord Judd, has just said because we all know that the consequence of not providing for these young people when they leave the care system is serious because they are going to remain in this country. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich backs amendment on support for unaccompanied young people seeking asylum”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich urges Government to reconsider cuts in asylum support

On the 3rd February 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill in committee. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of an amendment to clause 37 on levels of support for those seeking asylum.  The Bishop echoed the concerns of the Bishop of Southwark, made at the Bill’s Second Reading, that further reducing the weekly support for people in the asylum system was unwelcome. After debate Peers decided to let the clause stand as part of the Bill.

 

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I support Amendment 230 in this group. My colleague, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Southwark, spoke at Second Reading of his concern about the architecture of Clause 37 and Schedule 8. I share his belief that the reduced weekly support of £36.95 per person, to which the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, referred, for an asylum seeker under the current system is inadequate. Where that financial provision is refused, it is subject to a right of appeal. I note that in nearly two-thirds of such appeal cases, the appeal is successful or the refusal is withdrawn. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich urges Government to reconsider cuts in asylum support”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on welfare of child refugees

On the 3rd February 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill in committee. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of an amendment to clause 34 of the Bill, related to appeals and certification of human rights claims. The Bishop spoke about the need for the new legislation to better identify and protect childrens’ best interests.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I rise from these Benches to support Amendment 227 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, and others.

The briefing note on Clause 34 to which the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, referred is a model of clarity. It was certainly very informative to me. It made clear, as the noble Baroness said, the statutory duty on the Secretary of State,

“to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of any child in the UK who … may be affected by any immigration decision”—

that duty is not in doubt—and that,

“the best interests of the child are a primary consideration”.

While I understand that a primary consideration may not be the only one, I do not understand how a primary consideration can be set aside even if it is in some way qualified. If it is trumped by other factors, it does not seem to be a primary consideration. So there must be a risk that Clause 34 unamended could undermine the Secretary of State’s statutory duty. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on welfare of child refugees”

Archbishop – no right not to be offended by frank assertions about faith

On Wednesday 3rd February 2016 Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty’s Government “what progress has been made by the review into funding for extremist interpretations of Islam within the United Kingdom, including from overseas sources, announced by the Prime Minister on 2 December 2015 with the declared intention that it would report by the spring of 2016.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, asked a follow up question:

Archbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, it is widely agreed that all statements that tend towards causing hatred, contempt and violence towards other faiths should not be permitted, but does the Minister nevertheless agree that it is not extremist in any way, and should in fact be encouraged, for there to be statements that are frank and categorical assertions of faith or no faith, and that there is no right not to be offended or hurt by such statements? Continue reading “Archbishop – no right not to be offended by frank assertions about faith”

Division: Renewable energy feed in tariff regulations

Lords No Division LobbyOn the 2nd January 2016 the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, took part in a division on the Governments Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2015.  Baroness Featherstone proposed that the Regulations, which would see cuts made to the tariffs, be annulled.

The House Divided: Content: 91 | Not Contents: 230 | Result: Government Win. 

The Bishop of Salisbury spoke in the debate . He voted Not Content.

(Via Parliament.UK)

 

Bishop of Salisbury points to gap between rhetoric and reality in Government policy on renewable energy

On the 2nd January 2016 the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, spoke during a debate on a motion from Baroness Featherstone to annul the Government’s Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2015. The Bishop spoke of a gap between the rhetoric and reality in the Government’s record on energy policy, citing the impact of cuts to feed in tariffs on the renewable energy sector.

Bp Salisbury 2The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I am very grateful for this debate. When I joined this House last year, I was really struck by how it was possible to work with Members from all parts of the House in preparation for Paris and by the strong sense of common purpose with which we could work together. I am grateful for the contribution from the noble Lord, Lord Deben, in terms of what now happens, post-Paris, and how we move on. However, I am unable to support a fatal Motion. On the other hand, it is really important that the House discusses where the Government are with their energy policy, and that is what this debate is able to do. Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury points to gap between rhetoric and reality in Government policy on renewable energy”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about tax receipts from fixed odds betting terminals

StAlbans171115On 2nd February 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on fixed odds betting terminals.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much tax  revenue they have collected directly from fixed-odds betting terminals in each of the years from 2010–11 to 2014–15 inclusive.  Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about tax receipts from fixed odds betting terminals”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Southwark raises concerns about new search powers

On 1st February 2016, the House of Lords held the 3rd day of the Committee Stage of the Government’s Immigration Bill. The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, spoke to an amendment that sought to remove Clause 17 from the bill (‘Powers to carry out searches relating to driving licences’)

BishSouthwarktaxcreditsThe Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I share some of the concerns of the noble Baroness, Lady Lawrence, who sketched out the problems with enacting this clause. As the Government rightly tell us, reasonable suspicion is a well-established precept in English law and policing practice. However, this does not mean that it is infinitely elastic in its application. A prior question needs to be asked when legislating: is it applicable in this circumstance, and with what effect?

Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Southwark raises concerns about new search powers”

Bishop of Norwich asks government to recognise Palestinian Statehood

14.06.12 Bishop of Norwich

On 1st February 2016 Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they plan to recognise Palestine as a state.” The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, asked a follow up question. Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks government to recognise Palestinian Statehood”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 25th-29th January 2016

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

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This week the Bishop of  Newcastle was Introduced to the Lords and took her seat as the Second female Lord Spiritual, supported by the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Southwark.

Bishops tabled, spoke to and voted on amendments to the Government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill (including successfully passing an amendment on child poverty reporting). Bishops also spoke during debates on the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill, local democracy and education and lifelong learning. They also asked questions about private sponsorship for unaccompanied child refugees, the ‘family test’, Christian-Muslim relations, junior doctors’ pay, prepaid energy meters and on forestry. The Bishop of Durham also led debates to approve two Church of England Measures – on safeguarding and diocesan finance.

Monday 25th January

14.06.10 Bishop of Durham 5The Bishop of Durham successfully passed an amendment to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on reporting child poverty. He also spoke in support of an amendment on life chances. The Bishop of St Albans supported an amendment on disability reporting. Bishops took part in Divisions on the Bill.

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about forestry. The Bishop of Durham responded to a Government statement on unaccompanied child refugees.

Tuesday 26th January

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The Bishop of Newcastle was  Introduced to the Lords and took her seat.

The Bishop of Worcester asked a question about the Government’s family test. The Archbishop of York also asked about family policy.

The Bishop of Rochester and the Bishop of St Albans both spoke in the Second Reading debate of the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill.

Wednesday 27th January

The Bishop of Worcester asked a question about Christian-Muslim relations.

The Bishop of Chester asked a question about junior doctors’ pay.

BishPortsspeechtaxcreditsThe Bishop of Portsmouth spoke to amendments he had tabled to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on exemptions to the two-child limit. The Bishop of Durham also spoke in favour of the amendments, as well as to others on supported housing.

The Bishop of st Albans supported amendments on the Employment Support Allowance.

Thursday 28th January

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about prepaid energy meters.

Derby 191115cThe Bishop of Durham and the Bishop of Derby both spoke in a debate on local democracy.

The Bishop of Derby also spoke in a debate on education and lifelong learning.

The Bishop of Durham led a debate to approve Church of England Measures on safeguarding and on diocesan finance.

Friday 29th January

Chelmsford 251115The Bishop of Chelmsford spoke in support of a Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility.