On 23rd March 2018 the House of Lords considered the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill [HL] in committee. This was a Private Member’s Bill. Two votes were taken on amendments to the Bill and the Bishop of Peterborough took part: Continue reading “Votes: Hereditary Peers (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill”
Category: Bills
Legislation before Parliament
Bishop of Rochester takes five Church of England Measures through House of Lords
On 22nd March 2018 the Bishop of Rochester introduced five Church of England Measures for debate and approval in the House of Lords. The full text of the debate on each Measure is reproduced below and the House gave approval to each. The Measures were: the Legislative Reform Measure, the Mission and Pastoral etc. (Amendment) Measure, the Pensions (Pre-consolidation) Measure, the Statute Law (Repeals) Measure and the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure. Continue reading “Bishop of Rochester takes five Church of England Measures through House of Lords”
EU Withdrawal Bill: Archbishop of York discusses impact on devolved assemblies
On 21st March 2018, Peers debated the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill on its ninth day at Committee Stage. The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd John Sentamu, spoke during debate on an amendment relating to the powers of devolved assemblies. It can be read in the wider context of the debate here
The Archbishop of York: The point I was going to make is exactly the same. As I have listened to the debate, it seems to me that the issue is probably what the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy, tried to address. When we leave the EU, the state of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland will still be the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
Continue reading “EU Withdrawal Bill: Archbishop of York discusses impact on devolved assemblies”
Bishop of Leeds discusses EU Withdrawal Bill amendment
On 7th March 2018, peers discussed Clause 7 of the EU Withdrawal Bill: ‘Dealing with deficiencies arising from withdrawal’, as part of Committee Stage. The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines spoke. Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds discusses EU Withdrawal Bill amendment”
Ecumenical Marriage Bill – Bishop of Winchester points to difficulties
On the 23rd February 2018, Lord Deben’s ‘Ecumenical Marriage Bill’ was debated in the House of Lords at Second Reading. The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Tim Dakin, spoke during the debate to say that he could not support the Bill for reasons related to detail and due process. The Government also declined to give the Bill its support, but as is convention, it passed Second Reading to be considered further in Committee. The Bishop’s speech and the closing speeches of the Minister and Lord Deben are reproduced below:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Deben, for giving us the opportunity to speak about issues of such importance to this Bench as the celebration of marriage and our ecumenical relationships. I first acknowledge the personal and pastoral issues raised by the noble Lord and the way that he has so succinctly put those in his four concluding points, about sacraments, the ecumenical world, the fudges and the ecumenical movement.
I am, therefore, rather embarrassed to start with something slightly more dry and technical. However, I begin by addressing what I believe to be the key issue here, which is constitutional in nature. There is a long-standing constitutional convention, with which noble Lords will be very familiar, that the Church of England makes its own legislation by synodical process. That legislation comes before Parliament for approval, having first been considered by the Ecclesiastical Committee. This Bill represents a departure from that convention. Continue reading “Ecumenical Marriage Bill – Bishop of Winchester points to difficulties”
EU Withdrawal Bill: Bishop of Leeds urges Peers to ‘model good ways of disagreeing’
On Tuesday 30th January 2018, the Lords considered the Government’s EU (Withdrawal) Bill at Second Reading. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, spoke in the debate, focusing on the purpose and tone of Brexit discussions.
Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, many speakers will attend to the technical and legal details of the Bill and they will be better equipped to do so than I am. I therefore want to use my time to pay attention to a question that lies behind the nature of the Bill and the choices that we are required to make in scrutinising and attempting to improve it. This question applies to all sides of the argument, whether we think that leaving the European Union is an unmitigated disaster or the best thing since Winston Churchill mobilised the English language and sent it into battle. Continue reading “EU Withdrawal Bill: Bishop of Leeds urges Peers to ‘model good ways of disagreeing’”
Lords backs Bishop of St Albans’ bill on marriage registration
On 26th January 2018 the Registration of Marriage Bill [HL], a Private Member’s Bill by the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, was debated at Second Reading in the Lords. It received the backing of Government all other parties, and having passed Second Reading now proceeds to Committee. The speeches of the Bishop opening and closing the debate, and the Government Minister’s reply are reproduced in full below:
Second Reading
12.42 pm
Moved by
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: That the Bill be now read a second time.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, the purpose of this Bill is to correct a clear and historic injustice. When a couple are married and that marriage is registered, there is currently provision only for a father’s name to be recorded. This is an archaic practice and unchanged since Victorian times, when children were seen as a father’s property and little consideration was given to a mother’s role in raising them. Continue reading “Lords backs Bishop of St Albans’ bill on marriage registration”
Bishop of Peterborough supports Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill
On 26th January 2018 Baroness O’Loan introduced her private member’s bill, the Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill [HL], for its Second Reading debate in the House of Lords. The Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Donald Allister, spoke in support of it:
The Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, yesterday, the River Restaurant downstairs helped us to celebrate Burns Night all day. I thoroughly enjoyed the Scotch broth at lunchtime, but I resisted the main course as I was eating out in the evening. I even resisted the whisky bread-and-butter pudding. The main course which I resisted was vegetarian haggis, celebrating Robert Burns in a way that respected the consciences of those who do not want to eat meat. That is a very proper and good thing to do. There is no legal requirement to provide vegetarian haggis, but it was welcome to many and I think that I would have enjoyed it. Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough supports Conscientious Objection (Medical Activities) Bill”
Votes – Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2017-19
On 17th January 2018 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill at its Report Stage. The Bishop of Durham took part in a vote on an amendments to the Bill: Continue reading “Votes – Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2017-19”
Votes – Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2017-19
On 15th January 2018 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill at its Report Stage. Several bishops took part in two votes on amendments to the Bill: Continue reading “Votes – Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2017-19”
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