Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Portsmouth asks Government about provision for women and children leaving women’s refuges

On 10th March 2020 Baroness Donaghy asked the Government “what assessment they have made of the financial sustainability of women’s refuges.” The Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Revd Christopher Foster, asked a follow-up question:

The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, I return to the provision available after victims and their children are able to move on from refuges. Substantial, important and fragile ground has been moved and gained through the provisions in this Bill. But the provision after victims leave refuges is very patchy indeed, offered in only one in seven local authorities. Can the Minister say when provision will be available everywhere, for all victims and survivors? Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth asks Government about provision for women and children leaving women’s refuges”

Bishop of Salisbury asks Government for figures on illegal waste exports

On 9th and 10th March 2020 the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, received written answers to questions on illegal waste exports

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: HL1788 To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (HL226), what assessment they have made of the proportion of shipping containers being returned following inspection; and what action they intend to take as a result. Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury asks Government for figures on illegal waste exports”

Bishop of Gloucester asks Government how Domestic Abuse Bill will meet needs of children

On 9th March 2020 Baroness Sanderson of Welton asked the Government “what funding has been allocated for a public information campaign to accompany the Domestic Abuse Bill.” The Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, asked a follow-up question:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: I thank the Minister for mentioning children. Given that the Bill will inform the way that people engage with domestic abuse, what provision will be made to ensure that the needs of children are properly highlighted to enable a child-focused response? Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks Government how Domestic Abuse Bill will meet needs of children”

Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling, bankruptcies and sports sponsorship

On 9th March 2020 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to two written questions, about gambling and bankruptcy, and gambling firms sponsoring football shirts

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: HL1785 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Insolvency Service’s figures which show gambling to be a feature in 373 bankruptcies last year, an increase from 158 in 2015–16.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling, bankruptcies and sports sponsorship”

Bishop of St Albans calls for levy on gambling industry to pay for treatment of addicts

On 5th March 2020 Lord Beecham asked the Government “what steps they will take to support the Gambling Commission to address problem gambling.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow-up question:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, at a time when the NHS is facing such unbelievable pressures from the coronavirus, it is also having to set up 14 gambling clinics across the country to try to deal with this situation. The industry has a gross gambling yield of £14 billion a year. Is it not time to bring in a statutory levy, so that the polluter pays for the damage being caused? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans calls for levy on gambling industry to pay for treatment of addicts”

Bishop of Winchester raises concern about response of universities to student complaints of assault and harassment

On 5th March 2020 Baroness Gale asked the Government “what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service in prosecuting cases of rape.” The Bishop of Winchester, Rt Revd Tim Dakin, asked a follow-up question:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: My Lords, a recent study highlighted that only 25% of university students who had experienced rape went on to report it to their university or to the police. It is therefore of concern that, since 2016, 300 non-disclosure agreements have been issued by universities in response to student complaints, including assault and harassment reports. The Office for Students and Universities UK are working to improve the handling of harassment and misconduct by universities, but can the Minister advise the House when the Government plan to legislate against the misuse of NDAs by higher education institutions to ensure that students are not discouraged from reporting these assaults? Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester raises concern about response of universities to student complaints of assault and harassment”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about recording of gambling-related suicides

On 5th March 2020 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on gambling-related suicides:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: HL1786 To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford on 13 February (HL1452), what assessment they have made of the potential benefit resulting from the (1) collection, and (2) publication, of data on the number of people who commit suicide for reasons connected with gambling-related harm. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about recording of gambling-related suicides”

Bishop of Carlisle asks Government about recruitment and retention of podiatrists

On 5th March 2020 the Bishop of Carlisle, Rt Revd James Newcome, received a written answer to a question on podiatry:

The Lord Bishop of Carlisle: HL1853 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to (1) train, (2) recruit, and (3) retain, sufficient numbers of podiatrists to meet (a) current, and (b) future, needs. Continue reading “Bishop of Carlisle asks Government about recruitment and retention of podiatrists”

Bishop of Salisbury calls for independent review into Wiltshire Police handling of allegations against Sir Edward Heath

On 4th March 2020 Lord Campbell-Savours asked the Government “what assessment they have made of the management of investigations into historic sexual offences.” The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, can the Minister explain how we will learn from the sorts of examples that we have had—for instance, the case of Sir Edward Heath in Salisbury—unless there is an independent review? In the past, we have been told that the Home Office cannot do that and that it is the responsibility of the police and crime commissioner. The police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire says that the police force there was acting as a lead authority on behalf of others. We need to accept that more than 40 allegations had to be investigated. How will we learn unless there is a review, and what can the Home Office do that will help to restore the reputation of both Sir Edward and, I have to say, Wiltshire Police? Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury calls for independent review into Wiltshire Police handling of allegations against Sir Edward Heath”

Bishop of Durham asks Government about measurement of poverty

On 4th March 2020 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received a written answer to a question on measurement of poverty:

The Lord Bishop of Durham:  To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to adopt the Social Metrics Commission’s measurement of poverty across all departments following the Department for Work and Pensions’ commitment in May 2019 to develop experimental statistics using that Commission’s measurement; and whether they have any further information on this issue. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government about measurement of poverty”