Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans asks about recruitment in the early years sector

On 29th June 2023, Bishop of St Albans asked a question on effective recruitment for early years and childcare settings following a government statement on childcare reform:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I join others in congratulating His Majesty’s Government for what is a very forward-looking and exciting series of announcements. The research we have on the first 1,000 years and many other pieces of research show just how vital this is, and it absolutely plays into the last debate about our economy in the long run.

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Archbishop of York asks about role of civil societies in regulating artificial intelligence

On 26th June 2023, the Archbishop of York raised a question on the inclusion of civil society representatives in conversations and debates on AI, in order to aid in building ethical frameworks for regulation of artificial intelligence:

The Lord Archbishop of York: My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble and right reverend Lord, Lord Harries, for raising this issue. I too believe that the best way for us to find the potential of AI is by paying great attention to regulation and ethics, building on what has just been said. What is best in us is beyond rationality—

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”

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Bishop of St Albans asks about support for journalists in the Horn of Africa

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 26th June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support journalists, particularly women journalists, in the Horn of Africa.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about support for freedom of the press in China

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 26th June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support journalists and the free press in China, particularly Xinjiang province.

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Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich raises need for comprehensive strategy to tackle poverty

On 22nd June 2023, the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asked a question on whether the government had considered the need for a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy, following a statement on cost of living support:

The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich: My Lords, we recognise the value of the immediate and urgent provision that is being suggested and those points being argued for. However, in the light of our experience of the deepening crisis, I wonder whether, because of the interlocking nature of so many factors, now is the time to be looking at a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about support for people with degenerative medical conditions

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 22nd June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what support is available for people with progressive supranuclear palsy.

Lord Markham (Con): Patients with a diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy would be supported through the usual range of commissioned health and social care services. Depending on the needs of an individual, support may be provided through a range of commissioned health and social care services including their general practitioner, general neurology services, specialised neurology services and social care. There is not a separately commissioned service for progressive supranuclear palsy.

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Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham asks question on post-EU funding for farmers

On 21st June 2023, the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham tabled a question on whether DEFRA had published sufficient detail relating to post-EU funding to allow farmers to plan for the future:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs has published sufficient detail in relation to post-EU funding to enable those working in farming to plan for the future; and what assessment they have made of any adverse consequences for the mental health and wellbeing of such people.

Lord Harlech (Con): My Lords, I declare my farming and land management interests as set out in the register. I start by paying tribute to the right reverend Prelate for the incredible work that he has done in support of his community in respect of the horrific events occurring in Nottingham on 13 June.

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Bishop of Coventry asks about treatment of religious minorities and non-governmental organisations in India

The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answers on 21st June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government:

  •  what discussions they have had with the government of India on the importance of pluralism and human rights, including freedom of religion; and what assessment they have made of freedom of religion or belief in India.
  • what discussions they have had with leaders from civil society in India on the status and experiences of religious minorities in that country.
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Bishop of London asks about reducing health inequalities

The Bishop of London received the following written answer on 21st June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of London asked His Majesty’s Government what recent progress they have made towards reducing health inequalities; and what further steps they intend to take in the future.

Lord Markham (Con): The Government is committed to improving healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035 and reducing the gap between areas where it is highest and lowest by 2030, as stated in the Levelling Up White Paper.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about diagnoses of corticobasal degeneration in the past five years

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government how many people were diagnosed with corticobasal degeneration in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, (3) 2020, (4) 2021, and (5) 2022.

Lord Markham (Con): The National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Diseases Registration Services (NCARDRS) does not hold comprehensive data on corticobasal degeneration. Therefore, this this information is not available in the format requested.

Hansard