This week in the House of Lords the Archbishop of Canterbury asked the Government about pressure on universities over antisemitism on campus. The Bishop of St Albans received answers from the Government regarding the welfare of Rohingya and Chin people in Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Bishop of Peterborough cited good examples of sustainable development and also paid tribute to one of the longest serving members of House of Lords staff. The Bishop of Durham asked about asylum and migration funding guarantees. The Second Church Estates Commissioner, Dame Caroline Spelman, answered a written question about theft from churches.
Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 4th-8th November 2019”
This week in the House of Lords was an unusual one as it included the first Saturday sitting in 37 years. During the Saturday sitting the Bishop of Leeds responded to the statement from the Prime Minister about the new Brexit Deal. Other bishops spoke this week about the churches role in Health and Social Care in, about freedom of movement of EU and UK citizens and the current political situation in Hong Kong. Bishops also asked questions about the taxation of air-fuel, the ending of cash withdrawal by Barclays from the Post Office and received written answers to questions about the Indian Constitution and Kashmir and the Government’s plans for English language education.
This week in the House of Lords the Bishop of London spoke about modern slavery, knife crime, funding for refugees, and rural services. The Bishop of Winchester received written answers to questions about the Apprenticeship Levy and post-16 and adult education. On Tuesday evening Parliament was prorogued in advance of the Queen’s Speech. 
This week in the House of Lords bishops led a debate on banking reform, and spoke and voted on a Bill that had been passed by MPs to seek an extension of the Brexit date. They asked questions about serious youth crime and funding for education in conflict-torn countries. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered questions on theology and practice in the Church of England and Anglican Communion. 