Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
On 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“why Department for International Development funding to the non-governmental organisation Girl Effect has been withdrawn.”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”
On 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”
On 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”
On 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”
On 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”
On the 20th February 2017, the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions about the situation in Iraq.
Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what political and financial assistance they are providing to strengthen and develop the structures and mechanisms for interreligious dialogue and co-operation in Iraq. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry receives answers to questions about the situation in Iraq”
On the 20th February 2017, Lord Oates asked the Government “how many secondary schools in England do not currently provide in-school counselling services for their students.” The Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, asked a supplementary question.
Lord Bishop of Ely: My Lords, does the Minister agree that an excellent education in a medical setting for those with severe mental health issues is essential to their recovery? Will he join me in paying tribute to the importance of education in acute mental health settings, such as the Pilgrim Pupil Referral Units in Cambridgeshire, which provide a stable learning environment for children and young people? Continue reading “Bishop of Ely highlights access to high quality education for young people receiving mental health treatment”
On 20th February 2017, Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood asked the Government “what is their response to the recommendation of Michael Gove, the former Secretary of State for Justice, in his November 2016 Longford Lecture that the approximately 500 Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners “who have been in jail for far longer than the tariff for their offence” should be released.” The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, asked a supplementary question. Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about prisoners on indeterminate sentences”
On 9th February 2017 Lord Singh of Wimbledon asked Her Majesty’s Government “what steps they are taking to combat religious extremism and to promote a cohesive society by enhancing religious literacy at all levels of government.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Aolan Smith, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, just three weeks ago I spent half a day in an immigration removal centre and so gained an up-to-date insight into some of the complex and sensitive issues that are being dealt with there. Concerns continue to be raised about the level of religious literacy among some of the asylum caseworkers. Is the Minister content with the level of training that they are getting in religious literacy and, if not, what can be done to improve it? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about religious literacy of asylum caseworkers”
On the 8th February 2017, Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty’s Government “what measures they are taking to improve productivity in the United Kingdom economy.” The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow-up question.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, one factor that influences productivity is issues of health, particularly mental health. Something like nearly three out of 10 employees are reporting some sort of mental health problem each year, which analysts believe is costing employers something like £30 billion a year. Will the Minister tell the House what the Government are doing to support employers in encouraging high levels of well-being and what is being done to lessen the stigma of mental ill health—in particular, encouraging employees to access mental health services that are already available to them? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about workplace access to mental health services”
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