Author: parliamentaryunit

BISHOP OF ST ALBANS QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT ON YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Bishop of St AlbansOn the 28th October 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a supplementary question to Lords Holmes of Richmond’s question about what Her Majesty’s Government made of the recent youth unemployment statistics, asking what the government was doing to ensure the effects of economic growth were felt by those living outside the city of London.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I congratulate Her Majesty’s Government on these figures, which are very encouraging, not least in London where the number of unemployed young people has declined by 57,000, which is significant. However, the figures also reveal that in the north-east of the country, the figures have declined by only 8,000. There, the levels of unemployment among young people remain stubbornly high. Can the Minister tell us what Her Majesty’s Government are doing to help in these areas, where the problem is much worse?

Lord Freud: My Lords, we have a number of programmes aimed at getting youngsters into the workforce all around the country. There is a mixture of the Work Programme, the flexible support scheme, the sector-based work academies and work experience. We are using a whole range of programmes to help youngsters into the workforce. They are working not just in London but right around the country. Clearly, we just have to stay on the issue and make sure that we get everyone in every part of the country into the workforce.

(via Parliament.uk)

BISHOP OF ST ALBANS RECIEVES WRITTEN ANSWER ABOUT BLASPHEMY LAWS IN PAKISTAN

Bishop of St AlbansBishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Anelay of St Johns, a written question about the discussions the Government had undertaken with Pakistan’s government about the blasphemy laws and human rights commitments.

Read the full transcript here:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan concerning the relationship between blasphemy laws there and that country’s human rights commitments, particularly in the light of the Lahore High Court’s decision to uphold the death penalty passed against Asia Bibi.[HL2276]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We regularly raise at the highest levels Pakistan’s human rights commitments including the misuse of blasphemy laws both against Muslims and against religious minorities. We are concerned to hear about the case of Asia Bibi and reports that a court has upheld the imposition of the death penalty. We have consistently pressed the Government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and expressed our principled opposition to it in all cases and we will ensure that we continue to do so.

(Via Parliament.UK)

BISHOP OF COVENTRY RECIEVES TWO WRITTEN ANSWERS ABOUT JURISDICTION OF ICC IN IRAQ & CREATING NEW PROVINCES IN IRAQ

13.10 Bishop of CoventryThe Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth asked the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Anelay of St Johns two written questions about Iraq.

 

 

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iraq about Iraq either acceding to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court or accepting the exercise of the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction with respect to the current situation facing that country.[HL2202]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the principle of universality. We have consistently raised Iraq’s responsibility to observe international laws and obligations in our contact with the Government of Iraq. The UK has not, to date, made representations to the current Government of Iraq regarding to accession to the Rome Statute or accepting ICC jurisdiction in relation to the current situation in the country. Any decision to involve the ICC must be made on the basis of whether the court would prove an effective means of bringing the perpetrators of atrocities to justice. We will continue to look at every available option for ensuring accountability.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conversations they have had with the government of Iraq about the implementation of proposals announced by that government in January 2014 to create three new provinces, including one in the largely Christian Nineveh Plains.[HL2203]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: These proposals have not yet been implemented, but we support the new Government of Iraq’s commitment to decentralised governance and greater sharing of power with the provinces. This will form an important part of efforts to increase political inclusivity, which is necessary if the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are to be driven out of Iraq for the long term.

(Via Parliament.UK)

Bishops take part in votes on reforms to Judicial Review

On 27th October 2014, four bishops took part in divisions on the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill, on the third day of its Report Stage. Details of the votes can be seen below.

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

Amendment 146 – Judicial review in the High Court and Upper Tribunal

Crossbench peer Lord Pannick moved amendment 146, which sought to soften the Government’s proposal that the High Court must refuse permission for a Judicial Review if it is ‘highly likely’ that the decision whose legality is being challenged would be unchanged even if the Review were successful.

Four bishops voted ‘content’ to this amendment. They were the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd James Langstaff, and the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith. No bishop voted ‘not content’. There were: Contents: 247 | Not Contents: 181 | Result: Government Defeat

(via Parliament.uk)

Continue reading “Bishops take part in votes on reforms to Judicial Review”

Bishop of Rochester calls for greater co-ordination between Troubled Families programme and young offenders policy

On 27th October 2014, Lord Horam asked Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made with the Troubled Families programme. The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of RochesterThe Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, tomorrow morning the Prison Reform Trust will publish the latest edition of its well regarded Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile. Among other things that will show the continuing correlation between exclusion from school, being brought up in care and offending behaviour. In the light of this and of other responses already given, can the Minister give an assurance that the Troubled Families programme is being well co-ordinated with the Ministry of Justice’s young offenders policy?

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: I can give the right reverend Prelate that assurance. Indeed, in a previous incarnation when I was the Whip for the justice department, I saw the importance of many rehabilitation programmes directly through visits programmes. He raises an important part of the mix that defines troubled families. As he is well aware, one of the key elements is youth crime and targeting youth crime and anti-social behaviour. Again, what we are seeing, for the first time I believe, is not just departments working together, but people at a local level working well together to ensure that all people involved, whether in youth crime, those involved in not attending school, as my noble friend said, or those who are not in employment, get sustainable solutions for the long term.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans questions government on the Green Climate Fund

On 27th October 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked an oral question in the House of Lords:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to pledge funding to the Green Climate Fund.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma): My Lords, the UK recognises the importance of a successful initial resource mobilisation process, and is keen for the fund to become operational as soon as possible. We aim to pledge at the initial Green Climate Fund pledging meeting arranged for 19 and 20 November, ahead of the United Nations climate change negotiations at the start of December. We are a strong supporter of the Green Climate Fund, because we see it as a key new vehicle for helping developing countries adapt to climate change and follow low-carbon development paths.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: I thank the Minister for her reply, and I am grateful for all that the Government are doing in this important area. So far, 10 countries, I think, have pledged contributions to the Green Climate Fund, but despite his warm words recently in New York the Prime Minister was not among those offering to make a pledge. Can we have some information about how much Her Majesty’s Government intend to pledge, and can we know what else we shall put on the table, if we are to have credibility at the discussions in December in Lima?

Baroness Verma: My Lords, the UK is committed to scaling up climate finance, and we have already committed £3.87 billion from our International Climate Fund between 2011 and 2016. The first £1.76 billion of this has already been committed from the International Climate Fund, and is expected to achieve the following lifetime results. However, the right reverend Prelate is right that we need to encourage all member states to come up to the mark and ensure that they are all contributing. This is a very important area. The UK is absolutely committed, and the Prime Minister has made that very clear. He will announce his pledge in November.

(via Parliament.uk)

Church of England Week in Westminster, 20th-25th October 2014

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

In the past week, the Second Church Estates Commissioner has led the debate on the Church of England Measure for Women Bishops, which was passed by MPs and then went on to receive Royal Assent.

In the House of Lords bishops have supported amendments to the Government’s Criminal Justice and Courts Bill and Deregulation Bill and spoken about apprenticeships and further education. Bishops have also asked questions about free schools, freedom of religion in Iran and fuel costs. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 20th-25th October 2014”

Bishop of Coventry speech on apprenticeships and further education

On Thursday 23rd October 2014, the House of Lords debated a motion in the name of Lord Monks, “that this House takes note of the case for improved alternatives for young people not attending university.” The Bishop of Coventry, Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, made a speech, which focused on examples of FE and apprenticeships in his diocese.

13.10 Bishop of CoventryThe Lord Bishop of Coventry: My Lords, I join others in thanking the noble Lord, Lord Monks, for leading this timely debate, in which I have learnt a lot. Perhaps I may speak rather anecdotally, and from where I come—Coventry. It is a city with two universities, both of which have an extraordinarily impressive history in relating to local businesses and developing qualifications, teaching and research that serve the world of work. The local economy of Coventry would have been in great difficulty in recent years without the excellent and genuinely multilayered provision from Coventry University and Warwick University, and I join the noble Lord, Lord Baker, in his congratulations and deep appreciation to the noble Lord, Lord Bhattacharyya, for his work in this area. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry speech on apprenticeships and further education”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about fuel costs and pre-payment meters

On 23rd October the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question about addressing the higher fuel costs imposed by pre-payment meters.

Bishop of St AlbansAsked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the outcomes of the round-table discussions convened by Ofgem over the summer with suppliers, consumer representatives, parliamentarians and the Government, particularly in relation to addressing the higher fuel costs imposed by pre-payment meters.[HL2157] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about fuel costs and pre-payment meters”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about freedom of religion and belief in Iran

On 23rd October 2014 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt rev Alan Smith, received two written answers from Government to questions he had raised about freedom of religion and belief in Iran.

Bishop of St AlbansAsked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had through the chargé d’affaires of the recently reopened Iranian embassy regarding the imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani.[HL2154] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about freedom of religion and belief in Iran”