This week in Parliament bishops spoke in the House of Lords debate on the Government’s EU Withdrawal Agreement, and asked questions on Asia Bibi, Pakistan, executive pay links to carbon emissions, greening towns and cities, the two-child limit on welfare benefits, internet safety, and support to organisations helping Christians and other minorities returning to Syria. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a question about Christ Church college, Oxford. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 3rd-7th December 2018”
Category: News
News about bishops and the church in Parliament. Opinion and comment pieces by Lords Spiritual on parliamentary / political issues.
Week in Westminster, 26th-30th November 2018
This week in Parliament bishops spoke in debates on child refugees and school funding, and asked questions on gambling-related harm, underage gamblers, tuberculosis, mental health crisis support, support for shipbuilders, and the establishment of the Church of England. They also took part in a vote on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered questions on the Northern Forest Initiative, persecuted Christians overseas, the Dean of Christ Church Oxford, the Church of England’s Christmas campaign, church social action projects, problem gambling, redundant churches, and charitable donations. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 26th-30th November 2018”
Week in Westminster, 19th-23rd November 2018
This week in Parliament bishops spoke on artificial intelligence, Brexit, and on Bills relating to consent in organ donation, and making homes fit for human habitation. They also asked questions on grade inflation, the two-child limit for benefit claims, Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, and elder abuse. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a question on Christians in the Middle East. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 19th-23rd November 2018”
Week in Westminster, 12th-16th November 2018
This week in Parliament bishops spoke on the Budget, Brexit and the Prince of Wales’s 70th birthday. They also asked questions on violent crime, the death penalty and vaping. They also marked UK Parliament week and the centenary of women’s suffrage with a parliamentary event celebrating the role of women in the church and public life. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 12th-16th November 2018”
Senior women in the church celebrate UK Parliament Week and centenary of women’s suffrage
On Tuesday 13th November a reception was held in Parliament with bishops and the First and Second Church Estates Commissioners, to celebrate the role of women in the church and public life, and to mark UK Parliament Week and the centenary of women getting the vote. The Bishops of London, Gloucester and Bristol, and the First Church Estates Commissioner Loretta Minghella, were asked questions by Second Estates Commissioner Dame Caroline Spelman MP and an audience of parliamentarians and clergy.
Week in Westminster, 5th-9th November 2018
This week in Parliament the Bishop of St Albans asked questions of the Government about knife crime and British arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered questions on clergy carers. Parliament rose on Tuesday evening for the short November recess. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 5th-9th November 2018”
Week in Westminster 29th October – 2nd November
This week in the House of Lords bishops asked questions about support for children with a parent in prison, the delay in lowering the stakes on betting machines, and on rail fares. They spoke in debates on problem gambling and the impact on family life of reductions in welfare benefits. The Bishop of Newcastle welcomed the creation of the new North of Tyne combined authority.
Continue reading “Week in Westminster 29th October – 2nd November”
Week in Westminster, 22nd-26th October 2018
This week in the House of Lords the Bishop of Bristol was introduced as a new Member, and bishops asked questions about the impact of Brexit on food security and the impact of citizenship fees on children’s welfare. The Bishop of St Albans joined Peers in calling for the reduction in betting machine stakes to be introduced without further delay. The Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, led a debate in the House of Commons on allowing asylum seekers the right to work. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 22nd-26th October 2018”
Bishop of St Albans letter in Financial Times – Reduce £100 betting machine stake without further delay
The following letter appeared in the Financial Times on 24th October 2018:
We refer to your report “ Hammond plan to lift offshore gaming tax deals tough hand for casino groups” (October 22) and write to you as members of the House of Lords from the Christian Churches and other established religious traditions, to urge the government to implement the reduction of the £100 stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) without delay. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans letter in Financial Times – Reduce £100 betting machine stake without further delay”
Introduction of the Bishop of Bristol
On 23rd October 2018 the Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, was introduced to the House of Lords, and took her seat. Her sponsors were the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Salisbury.
Hansard records the introduction as:
23 October 2018
2.38 pm
Vivienne Frances, Lord Bishop of Bristol, was introduced and took the oath, supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Salisbury, and signed an undertaking to abide by the Code of Conduct.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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