On 4th March 2025, the House of Lords debated the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:
Votes: Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill
Category: Bills
Legislation before Parliament
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Bishop of Manchester speaks to amendments
The Bishop of Manchester spoke during a debate on amendments to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, expressing concern over the potential effects on churches and other places of worship, and the effects on voluntary commitments:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I am grateful that we are debating the amendments in this group. I declare my interest, having lots of churches in Manchester that fall under the terms of the Bill.
Continue reading “Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Bishop of Manchester speaks to amendments”Votes: Product Regulation and Metrology Bill
On 26th February 2025, the House of Lords debated the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a bishop took part:
Votes: National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill
On 25th February 2025, the House of Lords debated the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a bishop took part:
Bishop of Manchester asks about net zero targets and biomass capture
The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the impact of new oil projects on net zero targets, and a question on the viability of carbon capture and storage, on 12th February 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: Perhaps I might make it a bit wider, to avoid putting the Minister in a difficult situation. We have heard that there are a number of projects that have previously been approved to a certain stage and—at the risk of a pun—are in the pipeline. Have the Government made any estimate of the impact that schemes in this sort of pipeline will have on the UK being able to meet its net-zero targets?
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about net zero targets and biomass capture”Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Bishop of Manchester speaks in support of amendments on community and voluntary groups
On 12th February 2025, the House of Lords debated amendments to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill. The Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of amendments to the bill tabled by Lord Murray of Blidworth aiming to provide further support for community and voluntary organisations under the bill:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I support the amendments of the noble Lord, Lord Murray of Blidworth, in this group. As the Bishop of Manchester, I have got something like 400 churches and church halls in my diocese, but these amendments go rather wider than that. For places of worship, there are already some grant schemes for protecting against terrorism, given the particular threat that places of worship, especially Muslim and Jewish places of worship, have traditionally faced.
Continue reading “Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Bishop of Manchester speaks in support of amendments on community and voluntary groups”Great British Energy Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on community energy projects
The Bishop of Norwich spoke in support of a government amendment to the Great British Energy Bill which would stipulate that Great British Energy had scope for involvement in community energy projects on 11th February 2025, welcoming the amendment and highlighting the role churches might play in these projects:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I support the Government’s Amendment 8. It is good that the Government have introduced this amendment so that Great British Energy can facilitate, encourage and participate in local community energy projects. I pay tribute to the noble Earl, Lord Russell, for the work he has done on this, as well as a number of different campaigning organisations and other Members of your Lordships’ House. This is a very important amendment, and it will be a great help to a whole range of different community organisations.
Continue reading “Great British Energy Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on community energy projects”Votes: Great British Energy Bill
On 11th February, the House of Lords debated the Great British Energy Bill in the report stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendments on training for volunteers
On 10th February 2025, the Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of amendments to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill on provision of training for voluntary organisations to assist in their compliance with the bill:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I will speak in favour of the amendments in this group, particularly that in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner of Worcester. I have an interest to declare, in that I have 250 or 300 church buildings in my diocese that will come under the terms of the Bill when it is enacted.
Continue reading “Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendments on training for volunteers”Education (Assemblies) Bill: Bishop of Chelmsford raises concerns on efficacy
The Bishop of Chelmsford spoke at the second reading of the Education (Assemblies) Bill on 7th February 2025, affirming the benefits of collective worship while expressing reservations on the efficacy of the bill:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, I warmly welcome this debate. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Burt, for her introduction, as well as the other noble Lords who have spoken. I look forward to the Minister’s response.
Although I understand the intention of the Bill, it may not surprise your Lordships to hear that I will express some reservations about the proposals and say that I believe the current legislation already affords sufficient flexibility. I suspect that I may well be a lone voice in the Chamber today. I was interested to hear the noble Baroness quote my esteemed friend, the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Harries, formerly the Bishop of Oxford. Perhaps it is good to know that there are differences of opinion among Bishops in this House.
Collective worship is a vital part of school life. It is key to fostering a sense of fellowship and cohesion; to celebrating festivals, and not just Christian ones; and to strengthening religious literacy. Importantly, the current legislation already allows schools to tailor their provision to suit their pupils’ spiritual needs, and allows schools and academies to develop their ethos and values.
Continue reading “Education (Assemblies) Bill: Bishop of Chelmsford raises concerns on efficacy”
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