Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans asks about integration of care systems in rural areas

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on integrated care systems in rural areas on 24th July 2023, during a discussion about best practice guidelines for care of strokes:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, these guidelines are very encouraging, and all who work on them should be congratulated. As we keep hearing, the essence is speed if we are to treat effectively, yet this is particularly difficult in rural areas, especially remote rural areas. What additional help is being given to integrated care boards’ care systems to ensure that our rural integrated care boards can deliver these guidelines, which are so vital?

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Bishop of Durham asks about conditionality requirement within universal credit

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 24th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the book by Kate Andersen Welfare That Works for Women? Mothers’ Experiences of the Conditionality within Universal Credit, published in January, what assessment they have made of their decision to introduce automated sanctions and intensify the conditionality regime for lead carers.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about delays in connecting renewable energy schemes to the national grid

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 24th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of delays in connecting solar farms and wind turbines to the national grid; and what steps they are taking to accelerate this process.

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Bishop of Southwark asks about blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 24th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) international partners, and (2) the government of Azerbaijan, to encourage that country to lift its blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about problem gambling and gambling related harms

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 24th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote research on the types and extent of financial harms experienced by people who gamble.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con, DCMS): While millions of people gamble without experiencing problems, for some it becomes an addiction with serious consequences. His Majesty’s Government recognises the importance of continuing to collect data, evidence, and research into the types of harms experienced by problem gamblers.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about support for farmers to engage with renewable energy schemes

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 24th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what support exists for farmers who are not claimants of the Basic Payment Scheme and who want to plant hedges and trees for the purpose of carbon sequestration.

Lord Benyon (Con, DEFRA): There are several options available for farmers who are not claimants of the Basic Payment Scheme. Under the Countryside Stewardship (CS) Scheme, we pay for the management of hedgerows by rotational cutting and leaving some hedgerows uncut (BE3) and capital grants to plant and restore hedgerows. This includes hedgerow laying, hedgerow cropping and hedgerow gapping up.

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Bishop of Durham asks about links between absenteeism and mental health & wellbeing in young people

On 20th July 2023, the Bishop of Durham asked a question on connections between absences from school and mental health, wellbeing and special educational needs:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I declare my interest as chair of the National Society and thank the Minister for visiting the north-east recently. The Church of England has just published a flourishing schools document, which I know she has. Absenteeism appears to also be connected to mental health and well-being; there are particular issues around special educational needs. Could the Minister comment on the work that is being done to note the connection with mental health and well-being and improve that to help with absenteeism?

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Church Commissioners Questions: Ordinands, Community Sponsorship, Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act, Ordination, Freedom of Religion & Belief, Family Relationships

On 20th July 2023, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked the following questions by MPs in the House of Commons:

Ordinands

Mr Louie French MP (Con, Old Bexley & Sidcup) asked: What recent steps the Church of England has taken to increase the number of ordinands.

Andrew Selous MP (Con, South West Bedfordshire) I am very pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that there are 1,100 clergy in training in 2022-23, and that £10.3 million has been given to 25 dioceses to fund more curacy posts and £4.3 million has been given to 19 dioceses to make sure that clergy leaving training have a post of first responsibility to go to.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about increased global number of nuclear weapons

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIPRI Yearbook 2022: Armaments, Disarmaments and International Security, published on 12 June; in particular, the finding that the global number of nuclear weapons is increasing.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about renewable energy planning

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to simplify the planning process for renewables.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con): Our National Planning Policy Framework is clear that when determining planning applications for renewable and low carbon development, local planning authorities should approve the application if its impacts are (or can be made) acceptable.

In addition, powers in our Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will enable us to create a more consistent, streamlined and digitally enabled approach to planning applications. When utilised with existing powers, this will enable us to create an end-to-end system which is faster and more accessible to communities.

Hansard