Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 27th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln asked His Majesty’s Government whether they plan for the Minister for Skills to take a lead responsibility for social mobility.
Continue reading “Bishop of Lincoln asks about appointment of social responsibility minister”
The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 27th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 3 March (HL14602), what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the funding for English for speakers of other language programmes to meet demand.
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The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on the impact of the current conflict in the Middle East, following a government statement on the economic impact of the situation on 26th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I welcome this Statement and join the Chancellor speaking in the other place in paying tribute to our Armed Forces. In particular, I welcome support for those families and households hardest hit; however, I share the concern of the noble Baroness, Lady Kramer, for small businesses, and extend that with a question around what we are doing to support the charitable sector: for example, from my recent experience, in the transport costs associated with food banks, in heating warm hubs and so on. We have a responsibility to care for those who care for others, and I ask what the Government are doing to support that work.
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The Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on antisemitism in the UK, attitudes to the situation in Israel/Palestine, and interfaith engagement on 26th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, as noble Lords have said, we should all be deeply concerned by the resurgence of antisemitism around the world. We must all unequivocally condemn the sickening recent incidents in our own country. The definition of antisemitism agreed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is widely, though not universally, accepted, including by our own Government. It has also been adopted by the Church of England. Attached to that definition is a list of 11 possible examples of contemporary antisemitism, of which seven reference attitudes to the State of Israel. Would the Minister agree that one-sided, simplistic or inaccurate accounts of what is a complex and contested situation in Israel-Palestine can fuel the growth of antisemitism and other forms of religious hatred, including in our own country? If so, what support are His Majesty’s Government able to give to interfaith organisations that seek to present more balanced views and to encourage dialogue and learning around these difficult issues?
Continue reading “Bishop of Lichfield asks about support for interfaith work and combatting antisemitism”
The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 25th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of Chester asked a question on encouraging young people to enter the nursing and social care fields on 24th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, like other noble Peers, I warmly welcome this Statement. I notice an emphasis on technical skills in the Written Statement and the Statement the Minister has made. I declare an interest: I have been married to somebody who has been a professional social worker all her life. I am interested in what we are doing to encourage young people into the caring professions, be that youth work, nursing, educative support, or social care, because it seems to me that this serves not only their good but also the good of our society.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chester asks about careers in nursing and social care”
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 24th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government when they expect to publish the National Centre for Social Research evaluation of the pilot move on period for newly recognised refugees to leave asylum accommodation.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about changes to refugee status and housing”
The Bishop of Oxford asked a question on high energy costs in response to a government statement on the UK steel industry on 23rd March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, for seven years I was privileged to be the Bishop of Sheffield, and I am familiar with the complex ecology of south Yorkshire, articulated by the noble Lord, Lord Fox. For those seven years, each year I was the guest of the Cutlers Company, who would invite a Minister, always from London and normally the Chancellor. In those years it was the coalition and Conservative Governments. The script followed by the speakers from the Cutlers Company, who did not mince their words, was always the same. It was about the neglect of the manufacturing industry by government and, in particular, high energy costs. This seems to me to be the key to the next chapter in this strategy.
Continue reading “Bishop of Oxford asks about UK Steel Industry”
The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 23rd March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government:
During a debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 20th March 2026, the Bishop of Newcastle spoke in support of amendments to the bill aimed at providing protection to those vulnerable to coercion:
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I am grateful to my right reverend friend the Bishop of Southwark for preparing the way for some of the comments that I wish to make briefly now. Broadly, this group seeks to address issues around communication, language barriers and interpreters and I support the amendments laid before your Lordships’ House in that regard.
Continue reading “Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Bishop of Newcastle speaks on issue of coercion”
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