Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Gloucester asks about role of churches and faith communities in rebuilding social capital post-pandemic

On 25th January 2021, the Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on the role of faith communities and churches in helping to rebuild social and spiritual capital in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: Churches and other faith communities bring together a diversity of people across all ages and backgrounds, and thus are often a strong source of social capital, as well as spiritual capital, as we have seen during the pandemic. Will the Minister say what Her Majesty’s Government are doing, both financially and in other ways, to enable local and faith communities to invest in and rebuild their social capital, as we emerge from this pandemic?

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Church Commissioners Questions: Clergy Discipline

On 25th January 2021, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Rachael Maskell (Lab, York Central): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what progress has been made on the review of the Clergy Discipline Measure.

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Bishop of Winchester asks about publication of Further Education White Paper

The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answer on 25th January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish the Further Education White Paper.

Baroness Berridge (Con, DfE): We published the White Paper Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth on 21 January 2021.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on British Nationals Overseas

On 25th January 2021, the Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the potential impact of the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic on the processing of Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa applications; and what steps they are taking to address any such impact.

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Archbishop of Canterbury asks about challenges facing global vaccine distribution

The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke during a discussion on global access to COVID-19 vaccinations on 21st January 2021, asking how the government planned to tackle issues facing vaccine distribution:

The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, we must welcome warmly the exceptional moral leadership in this remarkable donation to the COVAX programme, which I think is the largest of any country. However, in order to make the money work, and to follow up what the British ambassador, Julian Braithwaite, said at the WHO, we need a global vaccination campaign if we are to overcome this global pandemic. There are three particular obstructions to overcome. One relates to the use of surplus supplies of vaccine; for example, Canada has ordered more than five times what it needs for its population. The second is misinformation, mythical dangers or false stories being deliberately spread about the vaccines. Thirdly, in many parts of the countries that will need the vaccine, there are immense logistical difficulties in distributing it. To make the most of the financial leadership we have set and given our expertise, experience and success in the rollout in this country, what will the Government do to validate that gift by overcoming these three challenges?

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Bishop of Coventry asks about UN Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

The Bishop of Coventry tabled a question on the UK government’s view on the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 21st January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about costs of treating gambling addiction for the NHS

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the cost of gambling addiction to the NHS in each of the last five years; and (2) the likely cost in each of the next five years.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about new domestic violence scheme in the courts

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st Janaury 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards introducing Integrated Domestic Abuse Court pilot schemes.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about support for children under five and the early years sector amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Bishop of Gloucester tabled a question on the wellbeing of children under five and support for the early years and childcare sector in the course of the COVID-19 Pandemic on 20th January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the wellbeing of children under five affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps they are taking to support the early years sector affected by the pandemic.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about theft of religious artefacts from churches in Tigray

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 2oth January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that Eritrean soldiers are stealing religious artefacts from churches in Tigray.

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