Author: parliamentaryunit

Bishop of St Albans highlights need for investment in rural communities

The Bishop of St Albans spoke in a debate on government priorities for rural communities on 15th October 2024, raising the need for concentrated investment in key sectors such as housing in rural areas:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, for getting this debate and I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Elliott, on his excellent speech. I declare my interest as president of the Rural Coalition.

Rural communities make up nearly 20% of the population. That is similar to the number of people living in London, yet our biggest metropolis, among others, often feels far more integral to our policy and governance than our rural communities do. Rural communities are not just the responsibility of Defra; they are a significant proportion of our population, businesses, services and economy, and they cut across every government department. The specific impacts and challenges of policy rollout in rural areas need to be baked into the decision-making process of every single government department—not an afterthought but integral to the development of policy from the very beginning. Rural concerns are so often given to Defra which, while it has the lead on rural affairs, has very few of the levers necessary to bring about change. The sustainability of our rural communities should be of critical concern to us all, regardless of where we live.

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Bishop of Sheffield speaks in debate on Infected Blood Inquiry

The Bishop of Sheffield spoke in a debate on the Infected Blood Inquiry on 15th October 2024, querying whether the government would establish a wide reaching duty of candour and the need to tackle a defensive culture in the public sector:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for scheduling this vital debate and for this opportunity to contribute to it. I follow other noble Lords in expressing my gratitude to Sir Brian for his comprehensive report and my deep sorrow at the distress suffered by the infected and affected alike, with many cases ongoing.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about tackling religious hate-crime

On 15th October 2024, the Bishop of St Albans tabled a question on the rise in religious hate-crimes:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to reports that religious hate crime has increased, what steps they are taking to tackle religious hate crime and strengthen community cohesion in the UK.

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Bishop of Guildford asks about tax relief for choirs

The Bishop of Guildford asked a question on the potential of offering tax relief for choir groups on 15th October 2024, during a discussion on the future of tax relief for the arts:

The Lord Bishop of Guildford: My Lords, the current relief offered to instrumental groups of 12 or more players does not extend to choirs, a situation that is logically indefensible, especially given the growing popularity of choirs across the nation. Can the Minister say whether the Government have formed a view on extending the relief to choirs, as requested by musical organisations all around the country, not least given the recent questions over the future of the BBC Singers?

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Bishop of Leeds asks about steps to increase infant and child vaccination in the North of England

The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 15th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to increase infant and child vaccination levels in the north of England.

Baroness Merron (Lab, DHSC): In England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with NHS England, the Department and wider health system partners to improve uptake of the routine childhood immunisations and catch-up children who missed out.

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Bishop of Sheffield asks about public feedback on House of Lords sessions

The Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on the public reception and feedback on recorded sessions of the House of Lords on 14th October 2024, during a discussion on behaviour and courtesy in the House:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, it is surely a very good thing that the dealings of this Chamber are broadcast live, but it does mean that our interactions with one another are witnessed far beyond this place. Can the noble Baroness tell the House whether any attempt is made to monitor or record comments from the public in reaction to the broadcasts and, if so, what use is made of that feedback?

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Bishop of Leeds asks about ethnic disparities in infant mortality rates

The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 14th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report Infant Mortality in England published by Health Equity North in August; and what assessment they have made of the ethnic disparities in infant mortality rates in England set out in that report.

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Bishop of Lincoln speaks in debate on European Relations

On 10th October 2024, the Bishop of Lincoln took part in a debate on relations between the UK and Europe, highlighting the value in strong community relationships:

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, for having made this debate possible and am looking forward to the speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Hodge, directly after this. Her experience as MP for Barking highlights how important it is that we are alert to the risk that cultural and ethnic diversity in our country can be exploited by extremists, and how important it is for us, as faith communities, not to have our faith and belonging co-opted by extremists in the way that we saw in the summer.

Faith and culture must not be seen as a cause of conflict. Our beliefs and values enrich and inspire us; these are the foundations of both individual and communal strength. Our cultural diversity, moreover, is a source of vitality, creativity and wisdom, but only when we are able to come together in dialogue, study and celebration. Faith remains a key feature of modern society in the UK and across Europe. It is worth remembering that Christianity, Islam and Judaism all have roots in the Middle East and long histories in Europe. It is vital that we build constructive relationships between these significant faith communities as we look towards a more positive future.

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Bishop of St Albans leads debate on support and compensation for farmers

The Bishop of St Albans led a debate on support and compensation for farmers affected by flooding on 10th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure farmers are supported and recompensed for their role in flood prevention.

My Lords, I am grateful to all Members of your Lordships’ House who have signed up for this topical debate, giving us a few minutes to explore the extraordinary challenges that flooding is causing for our farming community.

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Bishop of Oxford urges government to tackle issues in social care

The Bishop of Oxford spoke in a debate on social care strategy on 10th October 2024, referencing the work of the Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care and the need for a social care renewal:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I too welcome this debate. I particularly appreciated the initial appeal by the noble Baroness, Lady Tyler, for a reframing of a broader conversation. Like others across this House, I pay tribute to the many unpaid carers and those who work in social care, who invest their lives in the well-being of others. As has been said, in this debate we acknowledge together that our social care system is in urgent need of reform and that this is a key moment. I share the hope that the Government will take the first steps in that reform in the very near future. Social care impacts us all, in terms of our responsibilities and needs. It brings the most vulnerable in our society from the margins to the centre of our attention and our love.

Last year, the Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care published its excellent report, Care and Support Reimagined. The commission was chaired by Dr Anna Dixon MBE and the right reverend James Newcombe, then Lord Bishop of Carlisle. The report commends the development of a national care covenant. The biblical notion of covenant is based not around commercial contract but around a wider societal promise and mutual expectation, and is focused on relationships, mutuality and partnership. It demands a shared vision across society and common values.

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