Category: News

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week bishops in the House of Lords spoke on tackling poverty, the Chilcot Report into the Iraq war and the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent. They asked questions about restoring peace in South Sudan, youth volunteering and secure tenancies for young farmers. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a written question about mothers and babies. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 11th-15th July 2016”

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely took part in a two day debate in the House of Lords on the outcome of the EU referendum. Bishops scrutinised the Government’s Children and Social Work Bill, spoke on the rural economy, modern slavery and responded to the Government’s statement on the Chilcot Report. Bishops also asked questions on EU citizens in the UK, alcohol buying, war in Sudan, development aid and university research and voted on tobacco regulations. In the House of Commons MPs put questions to the Second Church Estates Commissioner, including on out of school settings, poverty, women bishops and human trafficking. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 4th-8th July 2016”

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week Bishops in the House of Lords called for action to counter fear and race hatred following the outcome of the EU referendum. Bishops also asked questions about freedom of speech at universities, radicalisation in prisons, and strengthening religious education. Bishops also spoke in debates on zero hours contracts, trust in public institutions and historic sex abuse allegations. During the recall of the House the previous week, the Bishop of Leeds paid tribute to Jo Cox MP. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 27th June – 1st July 2016”

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week the Bishop of Gloucester read prayers in the House for the first time, becoming the first woman to do so in the history of Parliament. Bishops also asked questions on the attacks in Orlando, persecuted Christians in the Middle East, fostering of child refugees and the impact of stop and search on the black community. Bishops also spoke in debates on the Government’s Children and Social Work Bill and the migrant crisis. The Bishop of St Albans’ bill on gambling received its First Reading in the Lords. In the Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered a question on deprived communities. Parliament rose on Wednesday for the short EU referendum recess.

Members of both Houses responded with shock and sadness to the news of the death of Jo Cox MP, who had been attacked outside her constituency advice surgery. The Bishop of Sheffield, on duty in the Lords for the week, published thoughts on this tragic event.  
Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 13th-17th June 2016”

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Durham gave evidence on immigration and asylum support to MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee. In the Lords the Bishop of Derby spoke in a debate on FGM, during debate on Bills about arms’ brokers and renter’s rights, and asked a question on DfID funding in Burma.  Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 6th-10th June 2016”

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week the formal debate on the Queen’s Speech continued in the House of Lords, with bishops speaking on the themes of defence, international affairs, the economy, life chances, prison reform, counter-extremism, British values and human rights. The Bishop of Newcastle made her maiden speech to the House during the debate. Bishops also spoke in a debate on special educational needs provision and asked questions on domestic violence and the detention of pregnant women. The House rose for the Whitsun recess and will return on 6th June. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 23rd – 27th May 2016”

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week saw the State Opening of Parliament, followed by the beginning of the formal debate on the Queen’s Speech. In the House of Lords bishops spoke on the subjects of welfare, children, adoption, and education. In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner proposed the loyal address on behalf of the House after the Queen’s Speech. A bill on fixed odds betting terminals was submitted to the Lords ballot for Private Member’s Bills by the Bishop of St Albans Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 16th-20th May 2016”

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week bishops in the House of Lords asked questions on supporting unaccompanied child refugees, help for displaced people in Iraq and Syria, fly-tipping and voter turnout . A bishop also spoke in a debate on the Government’s Life Chances strategy. The 2015-16 parliamentary session has now ended. Parliament will return for the State Opening and Queen’s Speech on Wednesday 18th May. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 9th-13th May 2016”