On 25th April 2016 a number of votes took place on amendments to the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill at its Report Stage in the House of Lords. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, took part in three of the Divisions of the House: Continue reading “Divisions: Housing and Planning Bill”
Category: Bills
Legislation before Parliament
Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of Leeds supports amendment on affordable rural housing
On 25th April 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill at its Report Stage. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, spoke in support of an amendment to the Bill that had been co-sponsored by the Bishop of St Albans. In introducing the amendment, Labour Peer Baroness Royall said:
“This amendment does not in any way seek to undermine the Government’s plans to increase the number of homes built on small sites. We need more homes in rural areas. It merely seeks to ensure that local authorities will still be able to meet the affordable housing needs of their rural communities in ways appropriate to their circumstances.”
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, I support this amendment. My diocese covers vast and diverse rural areas. The issue that is constantly raised by those who live there is affordable housing for their children. We too often use the language of protection or preservation when we should be talking about development and creating the future. If we end up with small rural communities without young people in them, which in some cases is what is happening, we will have a problem 20, 30, 40 or 50 years down the line. I support the amendment and trust that we will give due attention to it. Continue reading “Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of Leeds supports amendment on affordable rural housing”
Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of Peterborough supports protections for victims of domestic violence
On 18th April 2016, the House of Lords debated an amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill that would mean victims of domestic violence who leave a secure social tenancy would be able to access a new secure tenancy, rather than the proposed short-term tenancies. The amendment had been tabled by Baroness Lister, with the support of the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith. The Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister spoke to the amendment on the Bishop of St Albans’ behalf.
The amendment was later withdrawn, after the Government committed to introduce it through regulations. Continue reading “Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of Peterborough supports protections for victims of domestic violence”
Bishop of Coventry questions the Government about the HS2 Bill
On the 14 April 2016 the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth spoke during the second reading debate on the HS2 Bill. The Bishop spoke about the impact the line would have on his diocese, the local communities, environment and business. Lord Ahmad responded for the government and addressed some of the questions asked by the Bishop Christopher.
Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry questions the Government about the HS2 Bill”
Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of St Albans tables amendment on rural right to buy
On the 13th April 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, tabled an amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill that would prevent Right to Buy from occuring in rural areas unless rural replacements were guaranteed. Baroness Evans of Park responded on behalf of the government. The amendment was later withdrawn.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I rise to speak to Amendment 52, which is in my name and has the support of the noble Baroness, Lady Royall. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Young, for his comments. I also want to note my support for Amendment 51, tabled by the noble Lords, Lord Kennedy and Lord Beecham, which would serve to better protect areas of high value, such as St Albans city and district in my own diocese, from a potential loss of social housing to other parts of the country. Continue reading “Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of St Albans tables amendment on rural right to buy”
Energy Bill: Bishop of Chester supports Commons amendment
On 12th April 2016, the House of Lords discussed the amendments made by House of Commons to the Government’s Energy Bill. The House considered an amendment which transfers functions from the Secretary of State to the Oil and Gas Authority. The Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Peter Forster, spoke in support of the amendment, for ‘limiting the function of the Oil and Gas Authority’.
Continue reading “Energy Bill: Bishop of Chester supports Commons amendment”
Division: Immigration Bill
On 12th April 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill at third reading. The Bishop of Chester took part in two votes that that took place on the Bill:
Divisions: Housing and Planning Bill
On 11th April 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill at Report Stage. The Bishops of Coventry and Chester took part in a number of votes that were held on amendments: Continue reading “Divisions: Housing and Planning Bill”
Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of Coventry supports increased controls on Starter Homes
On 11th April 2016, the House of Lords debated the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill at its Report stage. Lord Best and Lord Beecham tabled amendments to increase the period for which Starter Homes had to be sold at a discount. The Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, spoke in support of these amendments, and Baroness Williams of Trafford responded on behalf of the government. In a subsequent vote, amendment 1 was passed by 275 votes to 181.
Lord Bishop of Coventry: My Lords, I apologise for not engaging with the Bill at an earlier stage. Other colleagues from this Bench who have engaged with it are unable to be here today. I declare an interest: I have five children, and I worry very much about how they will own their own properties. Two have already managed to; the other three will need to work on it. It will be a little bit difficult for them. They will not have a great deal from me to help them, as they come from a clergy family. That is my second declaration of interest. Living on a clergy stipend for most of my adult life and living in clergy accommodation means that I have got to know the letting world reasonably well as a way of trying to make provision for my future and my family’s future when I am evicted from my house at some point. Continue reading “Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of Coventry supports increased controls on Starter Homes”
Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of St Albans supports amendment to planning requirements on small developments
On 23rd March, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, supported an amendment at Committee Stage of the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill. The amendment, tabled by Baroness Royall, sought to protect the right of local authorities to impose section 106 requirements on smaller developments. It was withdrawn after the debate. Baroness Williams of Trafford responded on behalf of the government.
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