Author: parliamentaryunit

Prayers at Council Meetings – Bishop of Leicester speaks in support of Bill in the Lords

On 13th March 2015 the House of Lords debated the Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill from Jake Berry MP, sponsored in the Lords by Lord Cormack.

The Bill, which has already completed its passage through the House of Commons, would “make provision about the inclusion at local authority meetings of observances that are, and about powers of local authorities in relation to events that to any extent are, religious or related to a religious or philosophical belief.” 

The Bishop of Leicester, Rt Rev Tim Stevens, spoke in support of the Bill during a debate on a series of amendments to it, tabled by opponents. The Bill passed through Committee unamended.

ThLeicestere Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, perhaps I should declare an interest, having just led the Prayers in this Chamber. Continue reading “Prayers at Council Meetings – Bishop of Leicester speaks in support of Bill in the Lords”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 9th – 13th March 2015

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

Westminster-abbey

This week, the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill successfully completed its passage through Parliament and will shortly receive Royal Assent.

Bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on credit & debt, the 70th anniversary of the Dresden bombing, and young people leaving foster care.

The bishops also asked questions on humanitarian aid in Iraq, homelessness, company pay, personal independence payments, Syrian refugees and the treatment of non-EU migrants.

Bishops took part in divisions on the Government’s Small Business and Enterprise Bill.

In the House of Commons the final question and answer session of this Parliament took place with the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry MP, who was thanked for his service to the House.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 9th – 13th March 2015”

Bishop of Coventry leads Lords debate on the 70th Anniversary of the Dresden Bombing

“I hope that we will be ready to proclaim afresh to the world that the story of our nations over the last 70 years proves that peace is possible and that friendship is better than enmity” – Bishop of Coventry 12/3/15

On 12th March 2015 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, led a debate in the House of Lords on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden. His opening speech can be seen below, along with the Minister’s response. The speeches of other members in the debate can be viewed on the UK Parliament website, here.

13.10 Bishop of Coventry

Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry leads Lords debate on the 70th Anniversary of the Dresden Bombing”

Bishop of Leicester speaks about challenges facing young people leaving foster care

“We know that transitioning to adulthood is challenging and demanding for all young people today, but how much more so for care leavers” – Bishop of Leicester, 12/3/15.

On 12th March 2015 the Bishop of Leicester, Rt Rev Tim Stevens, spoke in a debate tabled by Baroness Eaton, “to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to help young care leavers not able to “stay put” in foster care to make a successful transition to independence.”

Leicester Continue reading “Bishop of Leicester speaks about challenges facing young people leaving foster care”

Bishop of St Albans speaks on need to change attitude towards debt, credit and saving

“We need to work to move our society away from the current situation in which indebtedness is increasingly seen as the norm. We need to find ways of changing attitudes to credit and saving for the long term” – Bishop of St Albans, 12/3/15

On 12th March 2015 the House of Lords debated a motion in the name of Lord Stevenson of Balmacara, “to ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to implement the report on the Money Advice Service undertaken by Christine Farnish.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith, spoke about the importance of good financial advice services, access to affordable credit and the need for high quality financial education for young people.Bishop of St Albans

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans speaks on need to change attitude towards debt, credit and saving”

Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill completes passage through Parliament

On 12th March 2015 the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill completed its passage through Parliament, when it received an unopposed Third Reading in the House of Lords. Continue reading “Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill completes passage through Parliament”

Church Commissioner Questions – Bishops’ Letter, Church Buildings, Living Wage, Ethical Investments, St George’s Jerusalem

Tony Baldry MPOn the 11th March 2015 during the final House of Commons session of this Parliament for questions to the Church Commissioners, MPs asked the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Canon Sir Tony Baldry MP, about the House of Bishops’ Pastoral Letter, St George’s Jerusalem, the rural church, faith leaders and citizenship values, church buildings, the living wage, Lichfield Cathedral and ethical investment.

This was the final Church Commissioner questions session for Sir Tony Baldry MP, who retires at the end of this Parliament. Tributes to his work were paid by MPs and by the Speaker.

A full transcript can be found below.

Continue reading “Church Commissioner Questions – Bishops’ Letter, Church Buildings, Living Wage, Ethical Investments, St George’s Jerusalem”

Votes – Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill

On 11th March the Bishop of Leicester, Rt Rev Tim Stevens took part in three Divisions of the House on amendments to the Government’s Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill during its Report Stage in the Lords.

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

Bishop of Chester asks about treatment of non-EU immigrants

On 11th March 2015 Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty’s Government what representations they had received in the past year from organisations dealing with the welfare of immigrants over current immigration regulations. The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, asked a supplementary question.

 The Lord Bishop14.03 Bishop of Chester of Chester: My Lords, does the Government accept that, because the number of migrants who come here perfectly legally from the EU is much higher than expected, the downward pressure from the authorities on non-EU immigrants is onerous, aggressive and leads to the sort of report we have just heard? There is now such a disparity of treatment between EU and non-EU immigrants that it is producing all manner of injustice.

Lord Bates: We have to look at the reason why we have seen pressure on immigration; we have to take it seriously. The right reverend Prelate will recognise that uncontrolled immigration, which we have had in the past, puts intolerable strains on our public services. In this country we rightly have a proud tradition of offering asylum to those who are in fear of persecution and that will continue under the present regime.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about resettlement of Syrian refugees

On 10th March 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith, received a written answer to the following question of Government:

Bishop of St AlbansLord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to review their resettlement policy for Syrian refugees in the light of the number who are continuing to seek refuge.

Lord Bates: The Government is deeply concerned about the crisis in Syria, the suffering and hardship it is causing for millions of displaced Syrians in the region, and the strain it is placing on their host countries. Given the scale of the crisis, we believe the most effective way to ensure the UK’s help has the greatest impact for displaced people and their host countries is through substantial humanitarian aid and actively seeking an end to the conflict so that refugees can return to their homes and livelihoods safely. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about resettlement of Syrian refugees”