Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Church Commissioner Written Question – Procurement

On 1st March 2017 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered two written questions from Jon Trickett MP about the membership of the Churches Mutual Credit Union and procurement procedures in the Church Commissioners.

spelman-190117Church Commissioners: Procurement

Jon Trickett MP (Hemsworth): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, how many Church Commissioners’ staff oversee contracts which have been awarded to external providers. (64993)

Dame Caroline Spelman: The Church Commissioners external contracts are managed either in partnership with the other National Church Institutions through shared office services schemes or by the Corporation of Church House, who manage the building. Continue reading “Church Commissioner Written Question – Procurement”

Bishop of Peterborough asks whether Government is addressing China’s North Korean refugee policy

14.02 PeterboroughOn 28th February, Lord Alton of Liverpool asked the Government,  in the light of the sanctions imposed by China against North Korea following the assassination of Kim Jong-nam and the recent ballistic missile test, whether they will call in the North Korean Ambassador. The Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question about the Government’s engagement with China over their policy to return North Korean refugees to the country.  Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough asks whether Government is addressing China’s North Korean refugee policy”

Bishop of Durham asks Government if it will accept unaccompanied child refugees in next financial year

durham-230117On 27th February 2017 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received a written answer to a question about unaccompanied child refugees.

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will accept unaccompanied child refugees under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 in the financial year 2017–18. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government if it will accept unaccompanied child refugees in next financial year”

Bishop of Chester asks Government about London-Chester rail service

ChesterOn 23rd February 2017 Lord Shipley asked Her Majesty’s Government “what plans they have to ensure that HS2 will maximise links between cities in the north of England and with Scotland.” The Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Peter Forster, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, currently there is an excellent two-hour direct service at 125 miles an hour between London and the city of Chester. Will being able to get to Manchester—wherever Manchester is—in an hour call into question the current excellent direct service between London and Chester? Continue reading “Bishop of Chester asks Government about London-Chester rail service”

Bishop of Southwark asks about the impact of benefit cap on children of single parents

southwark-20feb17On 22nd February 2017, Lord McKenzie of Luton asked Her Majesty’s Government “what estimate they have made of the extent to which the new lower benefit cap will encourage people into work or to move into smaller homes”. The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, asked a follow up question.

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, according to the Government’s own impact assessment nearly a quarter of a million children are affected by the reduced benefit cap, more than two and a half times the number of affected adults. This includes many preschool children in lone-parent families at greater risk of poverty. Given that the prime aim here is to encourage more people into work, will the Minister consider exempting single parents with young children, who would not otherwise be expected to work under the current benefit rules and who rely on familiar social networks and services?

Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about the impact of benefit cap on children of single parents”

Bishop of Leeds asks about withdrawal of DFID funding for women’s rights NGO

leeds-20117On 22nd February 2017, Baroness Sheehan asked the Government “why Department for International Development funding to the non-governmental organisation Girl Effect has been withdrawn.” The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd. Nick Baines, asked a follow up question.

Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, was that judgment made after the Daily Mail had run its campaign or before?

Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about withdrawal of DFID funding for women’s rights NGO”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government to address effect of diesel cars on city air pollution

stalbans190117On 21st February 2017, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a question he had tabled to Government about levels of air pollution in cities. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DEFRA, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, responded and the follow-up questions of other Peers are also included below.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the issuing by the European Commission of a final warning to the United Kingdom for failing to address repeated breaches of air pollution limits for nitrogen dioxide, what action they are planning to take to deal with levels of air pollution in cities. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government to address effect of diesel cars on city air pollution”

Bishop of Southwark asks Government to condemn arrest of peaceful demonstrators in West Papua

southwark-20feb17On 21st February 2017, Lord Harries of Pentregarth asked Her Majesty’s Government “what representations they have made to the government of Indonesia concerning human rights abuses in West Papua”. The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, asked a follow up question about West Papuans being arrested for peaceful demonstrations.

The Lord Bishop of Southwark My Lords, with West Papuans continuing to be arrested and imprisoned for peaceful actions such as—as has already been said—demonstrating and even handing out flyers, and after Steven Itlay, leading a prayer ceremony in West Papua on 5 April 2016 to pray for West Papua to be accepted as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, was arrested and convicted of treason and spent seven months incarcerated, will the Minister reassure noble Lords that Her Majesty’s Government have specifically condemned these actions? Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks Government to condemn arrest of peaceful demonstrators in West Papua”

Church Commissioners’ answers: Security

Caroline SpelmanOn the 20th February 2017 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Labour MP Jon Trickett about the issuing of security passes to non-staff members.

Jon Trickett: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2017 to Question 62530, what the number of security passes issued by the Church Commissioners to people not employed by the Church Commissioners is; what business needs suffice for such a security pass to be granted; and what the number of passes issued to people who work for private companies which have currently or previously been awarded government contracts or which are bidding for such contracts is. Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ answers: Security”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about plight of Rohingya Muslims in Burma

stalbans190117-bOn the 20th February 2017, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question about the Government support for a UN inquiry into human rights abuses in Northern Rhakine.

Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report Interviews with Rohingyas fleeing from Myanmar since 9 October 2016, whether they will support the UN in setting up an inquiry into human rights violations against the Rohingya. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about plight of Rohingya Muslims in Burma”