Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the role of the United States in the future of Ukraine on 28th April 2025, following a government statement on the progress of peace talks in London:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, that position is very honourable, but the Minister said a moment ago that Russia should not determine the future of Ukraine. Should the United States?
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The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the government’s approach to the economic benefits to the warring parties in the conflict in Sudan on 28th April 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, there was much mention at the conference, given the statements that came out of it, of a rejection of external interference, but there were people there who are externally interfering, such as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Although the focus on humanitarian access is absolutely right, there is also the problem of gold, and that the conflict is being fuelled by the economic element of ownership and extraction of gold. Do the Government have any plans to approach the economic benefits to the warring parties as a way of stopping the conflict?
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The Bishop of Derby asked a question on incidences of self-harm among girls in youth custody, during a discussion on levels of self-harm in young people on 28th April 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, last month, Susannah Hancock, a member of the Youth Justice Board, published her independent review into placement for girls in custody. Many of the professionals that she consulted through that review identified self-harm by girls in secure settings as one of the biggest areas of concern. In the 12 months to September 2024, 55% of all self-harm incidents in the youth custody service involved girls, although they make up only 1.6% of the total average population in these settings. Can the Minister assure me that her department intends to collaborate with the MoJ to act on the report’s partnership recommendation to ensure greater consistency of good practice in responding to girls in custody who self-harm, including developing clear and consistent protocols on whether and how restraint is used, in order to prevent further traumatisation?
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The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answer on 28th April 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce material into the National Curriculum regarding the role of the United Kingdom in the creation of Council of Europe.
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The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 28th April 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of reforms to incapacity and disability benefits on the employment rate of people with disabilities; and what plans they have to evaluate and monitor the impact of these reforms once they have been introduced.
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On 24th April 2025, the Bishop of Lincoln asked a question on methods of powering blast furnaces in steelworks, following a government statement on British Steel:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: My Lords, following interventions from Lincolnshire MPs in the other House when the Statement was received, the Minister spoke specifically about the possibilities of further research into the use of hydrogen in relation to blast furnaces. Can the Minister comment on that? At what scale will research be undertaken to enable that to be part of the steel strategy in terms of powering blast furnaces in particular?
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The Bishop of Oxford tabled a question on carbon emissions associated with AI data centres on 23rd April 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Oxford: To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to measure the emissions associated with artificial intelligence in relation to the United Kingdom’s net zero target.
Continue reading “Bishop of Oxford asks about carbon emissions caused by AI data centres”The Bishop of Manchester spoke in response to a government statement on tackling child sexual abuse on 22nd April 2025, outlining the Church of England’s response to the issue and the conversation around the seal of the confessional:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I am grateful for the opportunity to have this short session this evening. I also gave evidence at IICSA in person: I was an expert witness on Anglican religious communities, because that was one of the guises in which Bishop Peter Ball had justified his abuse.
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The Bishop of Oxford asked a question on identifying suitable accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees on Tuesday 22nd April 2025, during a discussion on the costs of temporary accommodation provided by local authorities:
The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I declare an interest as patron of Asylum Welcome, which works with asylum seekers and refugees in Oxford and Oxfordshire. What proportion of temporary accommodation provided by local authorities is used to house refugees who are assessed as priority need after having been granted refugee status? What steps are being taken to identify more suitable long-term accommodation for this cohort?
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The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 22nd April 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Church of England in Parliament 
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