Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about how international climate finances are allocated during a debate on the government’s COP27 Statement on 15th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, is the Minister able to confirm that the pledges for international climate finance are not being taken from the ODA (Official Development Assistance) budgets?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about sources of international climate finance”The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about the need for better communication with local communities and support organisations when housing asylum seekers on 15th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, of course we are delighted at the hard work that the people at Manston are putting into this, but there is a very serious problem indeed. Just a few days ago, I had an email from one of my clergy who said that, during the week, large numbers of asylum seekers were moved in, without any warning to the local authority or local partners, and it has caused chaos. That means not only that we do not have the statutory support in place but that voluntary groups such as churches, which are trying to offer support, simply have no warning. Will he go back to his officials? We simply need to get the communication right and we will all work with the Government and other partners to try to solve this very difficult, agonising problem.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about lack of communication around supporting asylum seekers in local communities:”
The Lord Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 15th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the capability of Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs) provided to Russia by Iran; and what steps they are taking to help Ukrainians defend themselves from Russian UAV attacks.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about unmanned aircraft vehicles in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine”The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about the public health consequences of sewage being discharged into the sea and rivers on 14th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, this is not just causing devastation in our rivers—not least in our wonderful chalk streams in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire in my diocese—it is also a public health issue. Noble Lords may have seen the story of Jayne Etherington, a 22 year-old who went swimming in Pembrokeshire, caught E. coli from sewage and landed up in hospital with serious damage to her organs. What does the NHS think about this as a health hazard which is affecting a significant number of people and stopping them getting exercise by swimming in the sea?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about public health impacts of sewage discharges”
The Bishop of Exeter received the following written answer on 14th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Exeter asked His Majesty’s Government how they are working with supermarkets to ensure that affordable staple foods are available on the shelves this winter given the increasing food cost for (1) consumers, and (2) retailers.
Lord Benyon (Con): Defra has well established ways of working with industry. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement with supermarkets and producers in order to tackle the cost-of-living challenge. Through this engagement, Defra will continue to explore the range of measures food retailers can take to ensure the availability of affordable food. For example, by maintaining value ranges, price matching and price freezing measures.
Continue reading “Bishop of Exeter asks about increasing food costs in supermarkets”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 14th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 14th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to grant more overseas workers permits for work in food production in the Lee Valley.
Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con): Our skills-based immigration system enables us to treat people from every part of the world equally. We have broadened the eligibility of Skilled Worker visas from graduate jobs only to include jobs skilled to RQF level 3 and lowered the salary threshold to £25,600, making more overseas worker eligible to enter the UK. There are already a range of occupations in the agri-food sector which are eligible under our immigration system, if English language and salary requirements are met. Our immigration system is not regional and therefore available to all employers (including those in the Lee Valley area).
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about permits for overseas agricultural workers”
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 14th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:
Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs on 11th November 2022:
Jim Shannon MP (DUP): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church of England will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing accommodation on their land for people aged 55 and over with shared values.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Answers: Housing for older people and support for persecuted christians”Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs on 10th November 2022:
Jim Shannon MP (DUP): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church of England will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing the use of parish halls free of charge for (a) English classes for Ukrainian refugees and (b) community hubs for rurally based Ukrainians to meet.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Answers: Ukraine, parish ministry, support for those in need”
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