Category: News

Parliament met this week, in Westminster and online. 

The Bishop of St Albans began each virtual sitting day in the Lords with prayers, and also asked questions of Ministers on the pressures facing charities because of the coronavirus. He also raised the situation of dairy farmers, and the humanitarian needs of people already vulnerable in Syria.

The Bishop of Durham called on Government to suspend the benefit cap and two-child limit, which he said was contributing to a rise in child poverty during the Covid-19 restrictions. He also received an answer to a written question on the impact on early years childcare provision. The Bishop of Gloucester asked a question about support for vulnerable children during lockdown. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 27 April-1 May 2020”

Parliament returned from Easter recess this week in physical and virtual forms, with much of procedure moving online in response to the social distancing requirements caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  Both Houses also sat for a reduced period, of three days in the week.

The Bishop of Newcastle began the first virtual meeting of the House of Lords with prayers, and asked questions of Ministers on provision of protective equipment in sheltered housing and hospices, and on regional successes in the north-east to produce PPE for local NHS use.

The Bishop of Gloucester also spoke in a Lords debate held online about prisons and coronavirus.

During the Easter recess written answers had been published to questions from the Bishop of London on Covid-19 health support to those in immigration removal centres, the Bishop of Durham on the immigration health surcharge, and visa requirements for religious workers, and the Bishop of St Albans on domestic food production and reviewing the 2005 Gambling Act.

Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 20-24 April 2020”

This week in Parliament the Bishop of Rochester and the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous, spoke during debates on the Government’s Coronavirus Bill. The Government accepted an amendment to the Bill to enable General Synod elections to be postponed.

The Bishop of Rochester also asked a question about Government discussions with charities on the coronavirus response.

Government ministers answered written questions on Falun Gong in China, visas for ministers of religion, and nutrition, from respectively the Bishops of Carlisle, Southwark and St Albans.

Andrew Selous MP, answered written questions from MPs on cashless giving to churches, and maintenance of graveyards.

Parliament rose for the Easter recess, to return on April 21st. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 23rd-26th March 2020”

This week in Parliament the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke in response to Government statements on the coronavirus pandemic, the Budget and the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. He also asked  about plans to build communities and affordable housing.

The Bishop of Rochester spoke in a debate on the Chancellor’s Budget statement, and the Bishop of Carlisle supported two amendments to the Government’s Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill.

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on the humanitarian situation in Yemen and received written answers to questions on a review of the Gambling Act, and rural connectivity. The Bishop of Winchester received a written answer to a question about further education college mergers, and the Bishop of Salisbury received a written answer to a question on climate change and migration.

In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP, answered questions  on church closures, coronavirus, persecution of Christians, and marriage support.

He also answered seven written questions from Jim Shannon MP, on carbon reduction, cashless donations, South Sudan, Uganda, lead theft and graveyard records, and a written question from Sir Desmond Swayne MP on marriages. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 16th-20th March 2020”

This week in Parliament the Bishop of Portsmouth called for a new national measurement of children’s wellbeing, backing a campaign by the Children’s Society. He also asked how the coronavirus outbreak might be managed on the prisons estate, and raised the problems faced by women and children when they leave the support of refuges.

The Bishop of Gloucester spoke in a debate on International Women’s Day, highlighting the issues of global education, violence against women and women’s treatment in the criminal justice system. She also asked Government how its Domestic Abuse Bill would meet the needs of children.

The Bishop of Bristol spoke in a debate on climate change, highlighting the commitment of the Church to net zero and the investment action being taken.

The Bishop of St Albans asked several questions about the findings of a new Gambling Commission report on participation and attitudes towards gambling. He also asked about gambling and bankruptcy, and gambling firms sponsoring football shirts.

The Bishop of Salisbury received written answers to questions on illegal waste exports.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP, answered a question on Gypsy and Traveller sites and plans of the church to combat racism.

Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 9th-13th March 2020”

This week in Parliament the Bishop of Salisbury spoke in support of amendments on marriage support, during debates on the Government’s Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill. He also spoke in support of the BBC in a Lords debate, and asked Government for an independent review into the handling by Wiltshire Police of historic allegations against Sir Edward Heath.

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about recording gambling-related suicides, and also called for a levy on the gambling industry to help pay for the cost of treating those with addiction.

The Bishop of Winchester raised concerns about the use by universities of non disclosure agreements in cases where students have reported abuse or harassment.  The Bishop of Worcester raised concern about the devaluing of arts, culture and religion in the overall education system. 

The Bishop of Durham asked a question about how poverty is measured, and the Bishop of Carlisle asked about NHS podiatry services.

Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 2nd-6th March 2020”

This week in Parliament the Bishop of Gloucester led a debate on early years interventions to help children and families, spoke during the passage of the Government’s Terrorist Offenders (Restriction of Early Release) Bill, and and also spoke in a debate on alternatives to prison custody for women who offend.

The Bishop of Worcester paid tribute to emergency service workers in response to recent flooding.

The Bishop of London asked a question about the affordability of housing. The Bishop of Durham asked a question about funding for refugee resettlement, and the Bishop of Peterborough asked Government about war widows’ pensions.

The Bishop of Southwark spoke in  debate on Israel & Palestine, and the latest US initiated peace plan.

The Bishop of Leeds responded to a Government statement on rough sleeping.

The Bishop of St Albans spoke in a debate about inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and received an answer to a written question about the impact of advertising to children.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner Andrew Selous took the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure through the House of Commons, and answered a written question on bats in churches. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 24th-28th February 2020”

This week in Parliament the Bishop of St Albans asked a question to Government on plans to tackle antisemitism, and spoke in a debate on the importance of planting native tree species. He also asked questions about disability employment and technology, and the need for better education and media representation to counter Islamophobia. He received written answers to questions on the gambling industry and sport.

The Bishop of Worcester spoke in support of the Adoption Support Fund and the needs of adopted children and their families.

The Bishop of Winchester asked Government about pauper funerals and bereavement support, and received an answer to a written question on college financial monitoring.

The Bishop of Oxford spoke in a debate on the full implications of decision-making and prediction by algorithm in the public sector.

The Bishop of Durham received a written answer on Government plans to reduce child poverty and to questions about the welfare of older people and children in Rwanda. He asked a question about the construction of HS2.

The Bishop of Southwark received written answers to five questions, on Israel & Palestine, peace, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The Bishop of Leeds asked Government for a strategy to resurrect derelict Victorian mill buildings.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner Andrew Selous answered questions from Jim Shannon MP on carbon emissions, religious freedom, strategic development funding, church planting, green investments, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, the Primates’ Meeting, new technologies, marriage and family life. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 10th-14th February 2020”

This week in Parliament the Bishop of Blackburn was introduced to the House of Lords, and the Second Church Estates Commissioner Andrew Selous answered questions from MPs on LGBT+ equality, civil partnerships, church buildings, church schools and universities, HS2, Christians in Nigeria, and youth workers. Andrew also spoke about persecuted Christians overseas in a House of Commons debate.

The Bishop of Southwark praised the community response to the terror attack in Streatham, and also asked Government about the aim and intent of newly proposed counter-terrorism laws. He also asked questions about freedom of religion and belief policy in international development, and access to cash machines in the poorest areas.

The Bishop of Oxford spoke in a debate on climate change, the Bishop of Carlisle highlighted the need for more investment in adult social care, and the Bishops of Carlisle and Portsmouth spoke in the Second Reading debate of the Government’s Divorce Bill, expressing concerns about the provisions.

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about food security and scarcity in areas of East Africa affected by locusts, and also on fly-tipping. The Bishop of Durham asked a question about universal credit, and the Bishop of Leeds received answers to written questions to Government about security of Christians and freedom of religion and belief.

Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 3rd-7th February 2020”