On 8th February 2016, the House of Lords considered the Government’s Trade Union Bill in committee. The Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Peter Forster, spoke in favour of amendments to allowing electronic voting in union ballots alongside the Bill’s introduction of mandatory thresholds for strike ballots. Baroness Neville-Rolfe responded for the Government. Continue reading “Trade Union Bill – Bishop of Chester supports amendment on electronic balloting”
Author: parliamentaryunit
Bishop of Rochester asks about unaccompanied refugee children
On 8th February 2016, Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked the government “what action they are taking to relieve the situation of unaccompanied refugee children.” The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a follow up question.
The Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, as one of the bishops from Kent, may I take the Minister back to his previous answer? In fact, some 1,300 unaccompanied refugee children are housed in Kent, and the local authorities and the voluntary agencies are under very significant pressure. May I push him a little as to whether, in the light of the somewhat unencouraging response from other local authorities, Her Majesty’s Government intend to do anything else to ensure a more effective national dispersal programme—given that we are talking not just about this moment, but about the likely 10 years that will be needed to get a young person from the point of arrival to full integration, with all the work in education, language and healthcare needed to go with that, and the considerable investment required? Some assurance would help my colleagues in Kent. Continue reading “Bishop of Rochester asks about unaccompanied refugee children”
Church of England Week in Westminster, 1st – 5th February 2016
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week bishops in the House of Lords spoke to amendments on the Government’s Immigration Bill and in debates on education and renewable energy. Bishops also asked questions on extremism and offence, fixed odds betting terminals, Palestinian statehood and house building on floodplains.
In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered questions on the Queen’s 90th birthday, street pastors, ethical investments, women and BME clergy, credit unions, churches and community use and debt and poverty counselling.
Monday 1st February
The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on Palestinian statehood.
The Bishop of Southwark spoke during the committee stage of the Government’s Immigration Bill.
Tuesday 2nd February
The Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on fixed odds betting terminals.
The Bishop of Salisbury spoke and voted on a motion to annul Regulations on renewable energy feed in tariffs.
Wednesday 3rd February
The Archbishop of Canterbury asked an oral question on extremism and offence.
The Bishop of Norwich spoke to amendments on the Government’s Immigration Bill, on the welfare of children, asylum support cuts, unaccompanied young people and care leavers, and family reunion.
Thursday 4th February
The Bishop of St Albans received an answer to a question on building homes on floodplains.
The Second Church Estates Commissioner published a written answer to a question on church buildings and community use. She also answered questions in the House of Commons on the Queen’s 90th Birthday, street pastors, ethical investments and tax avoidance, women and BME clergy and credit unions.
The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on education.
Friday 5th February
The Second Church Estates Commissioner published a written answer to a question on work with debt and poverty campaign groups in Blackburn diocese.
Written answer: Debt and poverty campaign groups, Blackburn diocese
On 5th February 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, responded to a written question from Mark Hendrick MP:
Mr Mark Hendrick(Preston): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, on how many occasions buildings or parts of buildings have been made available by the Diocese of Blackburn and churches within its boundaries to (a) Christians Against Poverty and (b) other organisations providing debt counselling and employment services or campaigning against poverty. Continue reading “Written answer: Debt and poverty campaign groups, Blackburn diocese”
Bishop of Norwich calls for RE to be included in the English Baccalaureate
On 4th February 2016 the House of Lords debated a motion from the Earl of Clancarty, “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that children receive a balanced and rounded education in schools; and what effect the English baccalaureate requirements will have in that regard.” The Bishop of Norwich spoke in the debate, highlighting the need for RE to be considered in the English Baccalaureate and the importance of overseas visits in providing rounded education.
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, like others, I am very grateful to the noble Earl for securing this short debate. The importance of this subject is out of all proportion to the length of our discussion.
I agree with so much that has been said but I shall concentrate on two specific issues. The first, noble Lords will not be surprised to hear, concerns the omission of religious education from the English baccalaureate. I realise that it is not the only omission—I would rather like art, music and much else to be there, too—but I believe that it is a serious mistake that is going to be deleterious to a rounded education. Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich calls for RE to be included in the English Baccalaureate”
Church Commissioner questions – Queen, street pastors, investments, women & BME clergy, credit unions
On 4th February 2016 MPs put questions to the Church Commissioners in the House of Commons.
Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Second Church Estates Commissioner, was asked questions on the Queen’s 90th Birthday, street pastors, ethical investments and tax avoidance, women and BME clergy and credit unions. The transcript is below.
Written Answer: Church buildings and community use
On 4th February 2016, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Second Church Estates Commissioner, responded to a written question from Karl McCartney MP, on the community use of church buildings:
Church of England: Community Relations: Written question –
Karl McCartney (Lincoln) To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to ensure that its buildings are open for wider community use.
Bishop of St Albans asks about new housebuilding on floodplains
On 4th February 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on flooding.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of new houses built in each of the years from 2010 to 2015 were built on floodplains, and whether they expect that proportion to change in the next five years. [HL5515]
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about new housebuilding on floodplains”
Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on review of family reunion programme for 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 co-sponsored by the Bishop of Southwark on family reunion for refugees. Following the response from the Government the amendment was withdrawn.
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Southwark, who has added his name to Amendment 234, cannot be in his place, but I am glad to speak on my own behalf and, I hope, for him, too, since we are of one mind on this matter. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on review of family reunion programme for refugees”
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”
The Church of England in Parliament 
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