Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans asks about threats to underseas infrastructure

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on communication with global allies regarding threats to undersea infrastructure on 25th April 2023, referencing recent events in Taiwan:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I was interested to hear the Minister commenting on our engagement with our European allies. However, with reports recently that submarine cables connecting the Taiwanese mainland with the island of Matsu have been cut by Chinese boats, this is an international problem. What consultations are we having with allies around the world; in particular, so that we can try to develop back-up systems when countries are put under threat by this sort of action?

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Bishop of London asks about financial support for those suffering from long Covid

The Bishop of London asked a question on access to PIP and other financial support for those suffering from long Covid and unable to work on 25th April 2023:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, the advice of the DWP and DHSC is that, if those impacted by long Covid are unable to work, they will be able to access financial assistance through schemes such as PIP. However, in practice, as the noble Baroness said, there is a lack of recognition of long Covid among GPs and PIP assessors. What steps are the Government taking to make sure that more long Covid sufferers are identified and able to access financial support?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about infrastructure grant paid to farmers

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th March 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government how much was paid to farmers through the Slurry Infrastructure grant in 2022.

Lord Benyon (Con): To date no payments are due under the Slurry Infrastructure Grant. The Rural Payments Agency has been assessing approximately 1,300 expressions of interest and will be inviting those applicants in the highest priority areas to submit a full application by the deadline of 24 June 2024. Once work has been completed claims will be submitted and payments issued.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about government meetings with representatives from the gambling industry

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th April 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what meetings (1) ministers, and (2) senior officials, at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have had with representatives from the gambling industry in the past six months.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con): Ministers and officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regularly meet a range of people and organisations with an interest in gambling, including industry and charity representatives, to hear their views on the sector and to discuss areas of concern. All ministerial meetings are published on GOV.UK and can be accessed on that website.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about financial literacy in schools

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on government efforts to promote financial literacy in schools on 20th April 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote financial literacy in schools.

Baroness Barran (Con): My Lords, we work closely with the Money and Pensions Service and the Treasury to support the effective teaching of financial education in schools. The Money and Pensions Service has published financial education guidance for primary and secondary schools and we will deliver webinars for schools in due course. Our national network of 40 maths hubs also supports schools to improve their mathematics teaching, including financial content in the mathematics curriculum, based on best practice from east Asia.

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Bishop of Leeds asks about diplomatic efforts in Sudan

On 19th April 2023, The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the possibility of utilising connections in the religious community to aid in diplomatic channels in Sudan, following outbreaks of violence in Sudan and the city of Khartoum:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, the question of threats is one that I am slightly bemused about. I want to pay tribute to the work of UK diplomats in Sudan. I have been going there since 2011; my diocese has a link with the whole of Sudan going back over 40 years and I am in daily contact with the Archbishop of Sudan. In his cathedral the other day, he managed to get all the families—42 of them including children—secured in an internal building. They then had to watch their homes and elements of the cathedral being shot up, all their vehicles destroyed, offices ransacked and so on.

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Bishop of Leeds asks about role of Fujitsu company in UK Emergency Alert Procedures:

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the nature of the Japanese company Fujitsu’s role in the UK’s emergency alert procedures on 19th April 2023, during a debate on the suitability of the company’s involvement with these procedures following previous incidences of IT errors and defects in its systems:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, I understand the point about following procurement procedures, but can we try a different tack? What would Fujitsu have to do to make it excludable from these procedures?

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Bishop of Leeds asks about two child benefit cap

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the purpose of the two child benefit cap on 18th April 2023, during a debate on universal credit reform:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, could the Minister remind the House what the point of the two-child limit is and what its impact is on the provision of essentials?

Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con): The House will be very aware of this subject, which does keep cropping up. The House will be aware that, since 6 April 2017, families have been able to claim support for up to two children and there may be further entitlement for other children if they were born before 6 April 2017 or if an exception applies. As the right reverend Prelate will know, there are a number of exceptions, including any child in a household who is adopted, any child living long-term with friends or family or who would otherwise be at risk of entering the care system.

Hansard

Bishop of Leeds asks about the role of Russia in conflict in Armenia and Azerbaijan

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the effect ongoing issues with Russia might have on conflict resolution in Armenia and Azerbaijan, during a debate on the aftermath of the Khojaly massacare and the situation in the latter two countries on 17th March 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that answer. I wonder if I can tempt him to comment on the role of Russia in the current situation. Do the wider problems with Russia make it more or less likely that a solution might be found in Azerbaijan and Armenia?

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Bishop of Derby asks when changes to Youth Rehabilitation Orders will commence

The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 17th March 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government when the pilot trial changes to Youth Rehabilitation Orders with Intensive Supervision and Surveillance will commence; and when they will report on their findings.

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