Author: parliamentaryunit

Bishop of Chester welcomes the new single use carrier bags charges

14.03 Bishop of ChesterOn 4th March 2105, the Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster spoke in a debate on the new Single Use Carrier Bags Charges Order. The Bishop spoke to support the Government in their plans to introduce a charge for single use carrier bags. Bishop Peter also asked why the Government did not propose to introduce a similar scheme to those which already existed in other parts of the UK. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Lord De Mauley responded for the Government during the debate and address the Bishop’s questions. The full reply can be found below.

Continue reading “Bishop of Chester welcomes the new single use carrier bags charges”

Archbishop of Canterbury questions Government about preventing further destabilisation of South Sudan

Archbishop of CanterburyOn the 4th March 2015 Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of recent developments in Sudan, with particular reference to the continuing aerial bombardment of civilians in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, asked a supplementary question:

The Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, during two visits to South Sudan last year, both in Juba and in the fighting area, it was evident that there was widespread belief and evidence that the Government of Sudan were not only interfering in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur with these terrible acts, but seek further to destabilise the already terrible situation in South Sudan. What steps do this Government believe should be taken and what steps are they taking with the international community to stop this cross-border interference?

Baroness Northover: The cross-border area is again a very difficult area to be working in. Our sense of things in terms of South Sudan is that we have huge challenges there in trying to get the parties to some kind of agreement. The Government of Sudan themselves are playing a non-obstructive role generally speaking. However, given all the instability on the border that the most reverend Primate talks about, it is exceptionally difficult.

(via Parliament.UK)

The Bishop of Norwich calls for protection of academy funding

On 3rd March 2015, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch asked Her Majesty’s Government what advice they have issued to individual academy schools regarding the £2.5 billion held in their reserves. The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, asked a supplementary question:

14.06.12 Bishop of NorwichThe Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, some academies and other schools have secured private funding which they ring-fence to finance a chaplain, international links or some other good purpose. For the avoidance of doubt, will the Minister give an assurance that such funds are not to be treated as free reserves? Further, will he encourage academies to secure such funding?

Lord Nash (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools): I entirely agree with the right reverend Prelate and I pay tribute to his very good work in the school system in Norfolk. We should welcome such funds into the school system. We should welcome people who bring these funds and give their time freely. It is a development that we should seek to encourage.

(Via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans asks questions on homelessness and the Somerset Rivers Authority

On 2nd March 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to written questions on the Somerset Rivers Authority and homelessness.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to ensure that the legislative process of making the Somerset Rivers Authority a precepting body progresses in order for it to be established by April 2016.

Lord De Mauley (Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs): The Somerset Rivers Authority, Defra and the Department for Communities and Local Government are currently undertaking a review to identify a long-term, local funding solution for the Somerset Rivers Authority from 2016/17.

The review will look into all possible funding options and how they could be implemented.

(Via Parliament.uk)

Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review their policies and resources which support relationships, in the light of recent research by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Salvation Army which suggests that relationship breakdown is the most common cause of homelessness.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Communities and Local Government): This Government has increased spending to prevent homelessness, making over £500 million available to help the most vulnerable in society and have kept strong protections to guard families against the threat of homelessness. As part of this funding we have maintained investment in local authority homelessness prevention services, providing £320 million since 2010/11 which has helped local authorities to prevent over 730,000 cases of homelessness. Almost 38,000 of these were helped to stay in their home through mediation and conciliation schemes.

Church of England Week in Westminster, 23rd – 27th February 2015

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

Westminster-abbeyThis week, bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations, the Modern Slavery Bill, the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill and a debate on improvements to mental health services.

The Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill received its Committee stage. No amendments were proposed by Peers, and the Bill will now proceed to its Third Reading.

The bishops also asked questions on Syrian refugees, Broadband access for rural schools, victims of violence detained at Yarl’s Wood, freedom of religion in India, Gaza, library closures and security in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Bishops took part in divisions on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations, the Modern Slavery Bill and International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 23rd – 27th February 2015”

Divisions – International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill

On 26th February 2015, bishops took part in three divisions on the Government’s International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill, The Bill proposes to enshrine in Law the commitment to spend 0.7% of UK GDI on International Development. 

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

Continue reading “Divisions – International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill”

Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill – Lords Committee and Report Stages

On 26th February 2015 the House of Lords considered the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill in Committee. Continue reading “Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill – Lords Committee and Report Stages”

Archbishop of Canterbury calls for voice of refugees to be heard in Syrian peace negotiations

On 26th February 2015, Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty’s Government what measures they and the host states are planning to prevent Syrian refugees becoming permanent residents in those states. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, asked a supplementary question: 
Archbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, given that, as the Minister will be aware, peace agreements in this area have been done to the people, from Sykes-Picot nearly 100 years ago onwards, what contacts are the Government making with those who are in the camps and need to have a voice in the peace settlement, and in particular with women’s groups?

Baroness Northover: The most reverend Primate is right to highlight this. There is constant contact with those in the camps, to try to engage them in moving things forward. With regard to support for women and girls, we are acutely aware of how vulnerable they are, and we have a number of programmes to help support them. As he will probably know, we are very concerned about early marriage and so on, and those who are particularly vulnerable to that. We are trying to ensure that we link up to support those girls so that that does not happen, and seeking out leaders to help protect girls and women more widely.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans – Libraries (Written Answer)

On 26th February 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on library closures in the UK.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of library closures on educational standards across the United Kingdom.[HL5085]

Baroness Jolly (Government Whip): The DCMS has not made any assessment of the impact of library closures on educational standards across the United Kingdom. Every Library Authority has a duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of Worcester – Russia and Eastern Europe (Written Answers)

On 26th February 2015, the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd John Inge, received answers to two written questions, on the subject of security in Russia and Eastern Europe.

WorcesterThe Lord Bishop of Worcester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, as a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to bring about renewed discussions with Russia on a possible Euro-Atlantic security community. [HL5013]  Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester – Russia and Eastern Europe (Written Answers)”