Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

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

Bishop of St Albans asks about the cost of living for armed forces personnel

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 steps they are taking to support armed forces personnel with the increased cost of living.

Baroness Goldie (Con): Defence recognises that nobody is immune from the recent rises in inflation and the cost of living. We are committed to doing what we can to assist Armed Forces personnel where possible, including implementing the independent Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body’s 2022 pay award recommendations in full, a pay uplift of 3.75%; capping subsidised accommodation charge increases to 1%; increasing travel allowances by 7%; no rise in food charges; over 32,000 Service Personnel have received a Contribution in Lieu of Council Tax rebate of £150; and families can save around £3,400 per child per year through our wraparound childcare.

Hansard

Bishop of Bristol asks about future oil and gas exploration in the North Sea

On 19th July 2023, the Bishop of Bristol asked a question on the alignment of company commitments to net-zero targets, and whether the government would factor this in before authorising expansion of North Sea oil and gas exploration:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, what assessment is the North Sea Transition Authority making of the alignment of company commitments, especially on net- zero targets covering scopes 1, 2 and 3, over the short, medium and long term as well as company alignment on capital expenditure towards those targets? Can the Minister assure us that, before licensing any expansion in North Sea exploration, the authority will factor this into consideration when judging projects under alignment with the UK’s net-zero legal commitment?

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Bishop of Durham asks about work requirements under universal credit

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government, further to book by Kate Andersen Welfare That Works for Women? Mothers’ Experiences of the Conditionality within Universal Credit, published in January, what steps they are taking to ensure that work-related requirements are appropriate to parents’ caring responsibilities.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about UK’s resilience against nuclear weapons

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the UK’s resilience against nuclear weapons.

Baroness Goldie (Con): The United Kingdom’s (UK) independent nuclear deterrent exists to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, which cannot be deterred by other means.

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Bishop of Coventry asks about prosecution of Rwandan war criminals in the UK

The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking (1) to identify the presence of alleged Rwandan war criminals in the UK, and (2) to prosecute those who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con): If a UK resident has been responsible for core international crimes anywhere in the world, they may be investigated and prosecuted in the UK.

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