Category: Bills

Legislation before Parliament

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 The amendment was later withdrawn.

Bishop St Albans June 2015

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

ChesterOn 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:

Continue reading “Division: Immigration 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

Bp Coventry May 2015On 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. 

Bishop St Albans June 2015 Continue reading “Housing and Planning Bill: Bishop of St Albans supports amendment to planning requirements on small developments”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on supporting care leavers

14.06.12 Bishop of NorwichOn 21st March the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill at Report Stage. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James co-sponsored and spoke in support of a series of amendments on care leaving support for young people in the immigration system. Introducing the amendments the Earl of Listowel said:

“These amendments ensure that young people leaving care are able to continue to access leaving-care support from their local authorities in circumstances where their departure from the UK is not envisaged. This includes young people with pending applications to remain in the UK whose long-term future may be in the UK, and young people who cannot leave the UK because there is a genuine obstacle to their removal.”

The amendments were not put to a vote. The Bishops’ speech and the Minister’s response are below.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, the situation of most young adults in this country reveals why this group of amendments is needed. I am glad to add my name to it and pay tribute to the noble Earl for his introduction. In 2015, half of all young people aged 21 in this country and 40% of all 24 year-olds were still living with their parents. As many Members of your Lordships’ House will know from personal experience, even adult children who have left home often return when need arises. Indeed, my own personal experience of adult children is that territorial control of bedrooms continues even when they have got married or have their flats elsewhere—I am thinking of introducing a bedroom tax in Bishop’s House in Norwich. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on supporting care leavers”

Divisions: Immigration Bill

On 21st March the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill at Report Stage. A number of votes were held on amendments, in which several bishops took part: Continue reading “Divisions: Immigration Bill”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Chelmsford supports amendment on asylum for victims of genocide

On 21st March the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill at Report Stage. Lord Alton tabled an amendment seeking to secure automatic asylum rights for members of groups subject to genocide and which gave power to the UK Supreme Court to determine whether a genocide had occured. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, spoke in support of the amendment, and Lord Keen of Elie responded on behalf of the Government. In a subsequent vote the amendment was not passed, by 111 votes to 148. .

Chelmsford 251115

Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Chelmsford supports amendment on asylum for victims of genocide”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on family reunion

14.06.12 Bishop of NorwichOn 21st March the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill at Report Stage. Lord Hylton tabled an amendment, co-sponsored by the Bishop of Southwark, that would expand the rules on family reunion and asylum. The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of the amendment, and Lord Bates responded on behalf of the Government. The amendment was withdrawn after debate. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on family reunion”