Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Leeds asks about the difficulties of challenging the police

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question about the difficulty of saying “No” to the police on 22nd October 2022, during a debate on an incident 2020 in which the Metropolitan Police had strip-searched a schoolgirl in Hackney:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, there is an underlying question here that came up in the Sarah Everard case: how do you say no to the police? What do the Government plan to do to encourage and support schools and public authorities in addressing that question?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about support for those on low incomes

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about debt and support for those on low incomes on 22nd March 2022, during a debate on social security:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, does the Minister agree with me that we need a wide range of supportive schemes when we are trying to work with those who are coping with the issues caused by low incomes? Have Her Majesty’s Government assessed the Financial Shield pilot scheme which is running at the moment? It brings together health professionals and community organisations, as well as creditors, who are trying to take a long-term supportive approach to working with those who find themselves in debt?

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Bishop of Durham asks about levelling up in the Northeast of England

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answers on 22nd March 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government when the ministerial visits mentioned in the Levelling Up the United Kingdom white paper, published on 2 February, will take place in the North East of England.

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Elections Bill: Bishop of Leeds asks about Voter ID

On 21st March 2022, the House of Lords debated the Elections Bill in committee. The Bishop of Leeds asked a question regarding voter ID:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: What I am struggling to understand is this. There is a fundamental difference between belonging to an organisation—be it any political party—to which you opt to belong and for which you might be expected to provide ID, and being able to vote as a citizen of the country. Those are totally different things.

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Bishop of Leeds asks about prison release policies

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question regarding releases from prisons on 21st March 2022, during a debate on safe and secure housing for released female prisoners:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, Friday releases from prison, in particular, are hugely problematic. This is particularly the case for geographically dispersed women’s prisons, because women cannot travel home in time to make a housing application with their local authority before the office closes. Are the Government aware of this specific problem, and can they offer any solutions as to what can be done to overcome it?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about food and energy supply to the UK following the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 21st March 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans further to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia, what plans they have to strengthen energy security in the UK.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about sale of ancient artefacts from Tigray, Ethiopia

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st March 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to investigate the sale in the UK of ancient artefacts stolen from Ethiopia’s Tigray region as part of the ongoing conflict in that area.

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Church Commissioners Written Answers: Church Finance

Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from an MP on 18th March 2022:

Ben Bradshaw MP (Lab): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Church of England’s report, entitled From Anecdote to Evidence, what planning assumptions have been made in dioceses where large parish structures are being implemented in relation to the consequent fall in congregation numbers and drop in giving.

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Bishop of Durham asks about the sponsorship scheme for Ukrainian refugees

On 16th March 2022, the House of Lords debated the new Homes for Ukraine scheme, that would allow members of the public to put themselves forward as sponsors to house refugees from Ukraine. The Bishop of Durham asked a question regarding support for sponsors:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I hope the House will forgive me; Bishops do not usually go first. I declare my interest as a trustee of Reset. I offer the Minister welcome. I loved working with him with Syrians and we did loads of work together. Please will he pass our thanks to Paul Morrison and the team, who I know have worked almost without sleep over the last four or five days? It is great that that team is being brought back together.

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Bishop of Durham asks about the impact of inflation on families

The Bishop of Durham asked a question on benefits for families with children during a debate on inflation on 16th March 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of inflation on the real terms value of the benefits received by families with children.

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