parliamentaryunit

Bishop of Norwich responds to government statement on conflict in the Middle East

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in response to a government statement on the UK’s defence activities during the current conflict in the Middle East on 11th March 2026, raising the issue of conflicts elsewhere and the need to maintain focus on these alongside current events:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, as other Members of the House have done, I pay tribute to His Majesty’s Armed Forces. As the father of a soldier, I am acutely aware of what the families at Akrotiri in Cyprus are going through at the moment. I am sure they are being well supported by chaplains in the Armed Forces, just as many of the communities in the Gulf will be being supported by Anglican and other denomination chaplains serving in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. I am grateful to the Minister for the briefing that was given yesterday at the Ministry of Defence. I found it immensely helpful and it gave me assurance about the preparedness that had gone on over the last few weeks.

Crime and Policing Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendments on civil accountability

On 11th March 2026, the Bishop of Manchester spoke during a debate on an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill tabled by Lord Davies of Gower which “would prevent the Independent Office for Police Conduct from investigating an officer where that officer has already been investigated and acquitted in court for the same conduct matter,”, opposing the amendment and stressing the need for accountability in civil proceedings:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, can I add my two-penn’orth to this? I declare my interest as the co-chair of the national police ethics committee, but I am speaking more as a serving Bishop. I have to hear disciplinary complaints against clergy. Sometimes those clergy have committed something which is being investigated first by the police. To answer the point from the noble Lord, Lord Hogan-Howe, often the police tell us, “We don’t want you interfering until we have finished”. If the result of the criminal proceeding is that the person is convicted, I can then do quite a summary process in terms of applying a penalty or perhaps depriving that member of the clergy from serving in their parish, perhaps banning them from ministry for a time or for life. But all of that is very much on that balance of probabilities, on the civil standard. It is very different from the criminal standard.

Votes: Crime and Policing Bill

On 11th March 2026, the House of Lords debated the Crime and Policing Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Bishop of Norwich asks about impact of tax policy on rural communities

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on the impact of changes to inheritance tax and future policy changes on rural communities during a discussion on the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive on 11th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: I keep hearing from farmers, particularly from small farms, about the impact of the fiasco of the changes in inheritance tax. Would the Minister give some reassurance that future policy changes will truly be rural-proofed? I declare an interest as this year’s president of the Royal Norfolk Show.

Votes: Victims and Courts Bill

On 10th March 2026, the House of Lords debated the Victims and Courts Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Bishop of Norwich asks about special educational needs

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on whether dyscalculia would be included in the work of inclusion hubs on 10th March 2026, during a discussion on special educational needs:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for the answers she has given, but I will probe a bit further in two areas. Will dyscalculia be included in the core work of the inclusion hubs that are suggested as a requirement for all secondary schools in the schools White Paper? To what extent will the newly announced “experts at hand” funding specifically be used to address support for children with this condition?

Crime and Policing Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on protecting war memorials

During a debate on the Crime and Policing Bill on 9th March 2026, the Bishop of Norwich spoke in support of an amendment aimed at broadening the protections provided to war memorials under the provisions of the bill:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I support Amendment 370 in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Lord Blencathra. Across this nation, war memorials, often raised by public subscription of pennies here and tuppences there, stand to hold memories of those who gave their lives—sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, cousins and parents. They are carved in stone, metal, wood or marble. The Whipsnade Tree Cathedral in Bedfordshire is a living memorial planted by Edmond Blyth, a World War I veteran, to commemorate his friends who were lost. They are physical embodiments of sacrifice, courage and collective memory, often within the curtilage of parish churches, each name both precious to someone and precious in the sight of God—ordinary people called to do the most extraordinary things in very challenging times. When they are damaged, it is a hit in the stomach for the whole of that community. It damages how we build our life together.

Votes: Crime and Policing Bill

On 9th March 2026, the House of Lords debated the Crime and Policing Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Bishop of Norwich asks about UK contribution towards COP goals

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 9th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government how they intend to support the COP29 Collective Quantified Goal of at least $300 billion per year from the developed world by 2035.

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