Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Durham asks about special educational needs

The Bishop of Durham asked the following question on 20th June 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I recently visited a school in County Durham—not a church school in this instance—where 25% of the children had special educational needs. The head teacher pointed out to me the significance of not only the teachers but the teaching assistants, and the training that they too required, and said that there was pressure on her budget to sustain that level of staffing with some specialism. Can the Minister comment on that?

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Bishop of Southwark asks about Israel: Palestinians

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 20th June 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 30 May (HL275), whether they have had discussions with the government of Israel regarding the international law implications of evictions of Palestinian residents from Masafer Yatta; and if they have not, whether they will now do so.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about sanctions on Patriach Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on 16th June 2022, during a debate on Ukraine:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, it has come to a very sad state of affairs when I feel that I have to welcome the sanctions on Patriarch Kirill, given his role in leading the Orthodox Church. Having said that, it is important to keep back channels open when these things are going on, and the Church of England has close contact with the Russian Orthodox Church. Will Her Majesty’s Government work with the Church of England, through our diplomatic and other links, so that we can at least try to keep some conversations open, at the same time as rightly imposing these strong sanctions?

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Bishop of Leeds asks about parliamentary leadership

The Bishop of Leeds asked the following question on 16th June 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, we know that the Prime Minister deems the Nolan principles vital. Why has he not really responded to Sue Gray’s report, where the question of leadership was raised?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about integrity in public life

The Bishop of St Albans asked the following question on 16th June 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, at a time when public trust in the integrity of the Government and public life is being deeply damaged, would it not make sense for the successor of the noble Lord, Lord Geidt, to be appointed by an independent body rather than by the Prime Minister?

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Bishop of Southwark asks a question on the war in Ukraine

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question in a debate on Ukraine and Neighbouring Countries on 16th June 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, does the Minister recognise that among the devastation of whole towns and cities in Ukraine is included the destruction of churches, mosques and synagogues, and the looting of museums? Will Her Majesty’s Government fund technical assistance in the rebuilding of religious centres and aid Ukrainian authorities in the listing of stolen artefacts and antiquities with the Interpol stolen art database?

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Bishop of Southwark asks a question on immigration

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question in a debate on the government’s immigration policy and deportations to Rwanda on 15th June 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, in response to the Home Office Oral Statement, we on these Benches ask if it is not immoral that those who are to be deported to Rwanda have had no chance to appeal or to reunite with family in Britain. Is it not immoral that they have had no consideration of their asylum claims, recognition of their medical or other needs, or attempts to understand their predicament, given that many are desperate people fleeing unspeakable horrors?

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Bishop of Southwark asks a question about the government’s immigration policy

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question during a debate on the government’s policy towards asylum seekers and deportations to Rwanda on 14th June 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, following the Minister’s opening words, I presided at a midnight mass to commemorate the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire at All Saints West Dulwich, which went on until the early hours of this morning, so I was grateful for the tribute she paid.

Bearing in mind the force of today’s letter in the Times signed by all the serving Lords spiritual, will the Minister acknowledge, contrary to what some of her colleagues have said, that the Bishops and others have offered alternatives—in particular, safe and legal routes which are unavailable to those who wish to apply from countries such as Iran, Iraq and Eritrea? Secondly, will she inform the House how removals may go ahead if the monitoring committee, set out in the memorandum of understanding to scrutinise processing, reception, accommodation and post-asylum treatment, does not exist? Finally, on the use of language, does the Minister agree that there is no such thing in law as an “illegal asylum seeker”, only an asylum seeker?

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Bishop of London asks a question about PPE allocation

The Bishop of London asked a question during a debate on Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic on 14th June 2022:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I recognise the considerable pressure that the Government, the NHS and Ministers were put under, but can the Minister tell us what is being done so that we can learn from this situation and not replicate it in the next pandemic?

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Church Commissioners Written Answers: Homes for Ukraine

Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP on 14th June 2022:

Justin Madders MP (Labour): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether any properties owned by the Church of England are being used under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

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