Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
On 6th May 2020 the Bishop of Winchester, Rt Revd Tim Dakin, received a written answer to a question on FE students and teaching hours:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: HL3165 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all further education students who are (1) 16 or17 years old receive at least 540 teaching hours, and (2) 18 years old or over receive at least 450 teaching hours. Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about FE teaching hours during pandemic”
On 5th May 2020 the virtual House of Lords heard the repeat of a Government statement on welfare benefit claims during the pandemic. The Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I thank the Minister for repeating the Statement. I add my thanks to all those in DWP for the incredible amount of work that they are doing.
I want to return to the two-child limit. I am sorry but it simply will not do to keep parroting back the same answer every time we raise this issue. Today, the Church of England and the Child Poverty Action Group published our latest information and a report on the impact of the limit. It includes evidence from the early days of the Covid crisis. Sixty thousand more families will be impacted. The policy is utterly flawed. I have been assured by Minister after Minister that if we give them the evidence, they will re-examine the limit. It is time that it be re-examined. Please agree at least to look at our report and re-explore the arguments around this issue. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government to revisit two-child limit benefit policy in light of new report”
On 6th May 2020 Lord Kennedy of Southwark asked a question in the House of Lords during its virtual proceedings, on domestic violence and support during the pandemic. The Bishop of Worcester, Rt Revd John Inge, asked a follow-up question:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, we know that domestic abuse affects every community, including religious communities. Can the Minister assure the House that the Government are partnering with faith groups to raise awareness of available support during the pandemic? Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester asks Government about partnership with faith groups on support for victims of domestic violence”
On 5th May 2020 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP, answered two written questions from Alexander Stafford MP about church building closures and status of clergy during coronavirus restrictions:
Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley): 42227 To ask the right hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, when churches will be re-opened for worshippers.
Andrew Selous: It is essential that when church buildings reopen for public worship or private prayer by members of the public, that it is done safely. In the meantime, churches across the country are holding virtual services and offering support to the vulnerable and elderly. Where they are unable to do this locally national resources are available such as the national church service on a Sunday and the Daily Hope phone line. Continue reading “Church Commissioner Written Answers: Church closures, status of churches and clergy”
On 5th May 2020 the Bishop of Winchester, Rt Revd Tim Dakin, received a written answer to a question on the Government’s further education and skills strategy:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: HL3164 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in (1) improving further education, (2) meeting future skills needs, and (3) supporting economic and social recovery, since the publication of their Industrial Strategy: Building a Britain fit for the future White Paper in June 2018.
Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about Government FE and skills strategy”
On 30th April and 4th May 2020 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions on refugees in Syria and around the world and vulnerability to coronavirus:
The Lord Bishop of Coventry: HL3255 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to limit the vulnerability of refugees around the world to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about impact of coronavirus on refugees in Syria and worldwide”
On 4th May 2020 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on gift aid reform for charities during coronavirus:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: HL3217 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the amount that charities can claim through Gift Aid to 50p for every £1 donated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 4th May 2020 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on the review of the 2005 Gambling Act:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: HL3158 To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 1 April (HL2887), what is the nature of the scoping work being undertaken; who is involved in that work; and when they anticipate concluding such work. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about progress in reviewing the 2005 Gambling Act”
On 30th April 2020 during a virtual sitting of the House of Lords, the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a question he had tabled about the situation in Idlib, Syria. The response, his follow-up and other questions from Members is reproduced below:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the ongoing conflict in Idlib, Syria.
The Question was considered in a Virtual Proceeding via video call.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con): My Lords, we welcome the ongoing ceasefire in Idlib and call on all sides to abide by their obligations under the Russia-Turkey agreement of 5 March and to heed UN envoy Pedersen’s calls for a permanent, nationwide cessation of hostilities. We also remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Idlib, with 846,000 people still displaced and at high risk of Covid-19. We have therefore further increased our humanitarian response.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: I am grateful to the Minister for his response but, with 84 hospitals destroyed, some commentators are suggesting that in Idlib alone 100,000 people are at risk of coronavirus. What are Her Majesty’s Government doing to ensure that we have medical equipment, particularly ventilators, in that country to prevent what could be another humanitarian crisis?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans raises potential Covid-19 humanitarian crisis in Syria”
On 29th April 2020 during a virtual sitting of the House of Lords, Baroness Burt of Solihull asked the Government “what practical measures they are taking to address domestic abuse as part of their strategy on the COVID-19 pandemic.” The Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, asked a follow-up question:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, continuing the theme of children, given that lockdown has removed children’s usual contacts with schools, community groups and services, what are the Government doing to increase public awareness and provide advice and support for children at this time? Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about support for vulnerable children during Covid-19 lockdown”
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.