Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
On 15th December 2016 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received a written answer to a question about those removed from the UK to the Democratic Republic of Congo:
On 13th and 14th December 2016 the Bishop of Winchester, Rt Rev’d Tim Dakin, received responses from the Department for Education and Treasury to three written questions about overseas student numbers and their effect on the economy:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of overseas students, excluding EU students, coming to study in the UK over the next five years. Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about overseas student numbers and effect on the economy”
On 13th December, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Sharkey, asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the United Kingdom’s performance in the latest Programme for International Student Assessment rankings published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development”. The Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Peterborough My Lords, is the Minister aware that, in a number of the countries that have much higher academic standards at secondary school level, particularly those in the Far East—I know the story of South Korea quite well—there is also a much higher suicide rate among teenagers? Does he agree that our schools need to help people learn in ways that they enjoy and are healthy holistically, and that schools should encourage a love of learning rather than a fear of failure?
On 13th December, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, received two written answers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to questions about the President of Burundi.
The Lord Bishop of Durham To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in Burundi in the light of the recent attack on presidential aide, Willy Nyamitwe. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about UK engagement with President of Burundi”
On 20th December, the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, received an answer to a written question conerning the resettlement of Syrian refugees.
The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many refugees have been resettled through the Syrian vulnerable person resettlement scheme and community sponsorship scheme in each region of the UK. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government about resettlement of Syrian Refugees”
On Tuesday 13th December 2016, UKIP Peer Lord Pearson asked the Goverment “whether, as part of their strategy against Islamic terrorism, they will encourage United Kingdom Muslim leaders to re-examine the Muslim tenet of abrogation.” The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans highlights need to build positive relationships with faith communities”
On 12th December 2016 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received a written answer to a question he had asked on food aid to Rwanda:
The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to provide food aid to those affected by the drought in Eastern Rwanda. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government about food aid for Rwanda”
On 8th December 2016 Baroness Gardner of Parkes asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they intend to give powers to local authorities to prevent the further loss of long-term residential accommodation resulting from increases in short-term holiday lets.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, back in July the Minister kindly wrote to me to reassure me that the promised £60 million fund to enable rural and coastal communities to provide accommodation for local people was still on course, despite it having been delayed following the events in June. It is nearly 2017 and I do not think we have heard any more about that fund. Can the Minister assure your Lordships’ House that the scheme is still on course? When will the money be made available for those communities suffering most from second-home ownership? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about funding for rural and coastal homes”
On 7th December 2016, Lord Beith asked the Government “what steps they are taking to promote public understanding of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.” The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, will the Minister define a little further what is meant by public education, as it seems that one of the most powerful shapers of world views is what people see in the headlines of newspapers and what they see in the media, not just what is taught to them rationally, for example in schools?
n 6th December 2016, Lord Bourne repeated a Government statement made in the House of Commons about the review published by Dame Louise Casey. The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Tim Dakin, welcomed the review and commended programmes such as Near Neighbours for their potential to help social integration.
The Lord Bishop of Winchester My Lords, this review is very welcome for its frank and open-eyed survey of the social realities of our country. The Church of England is present and engaged in communities everywhere in the country. The importance of the work of schools, including faith schools, features largely in the review. I welcome the thrust of its approach and recommendations in relation to schools. We believe in British values, along the lines of the rich understanding of values explored in this Chamber last Friday. We will seek to respond to the review’s legitimate challenges to faith leaders.
Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester responds to statement on the Casey Review”
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