Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Leeds responds to statement on Article 50 ruling

Leeds160620On 7th November 2016, Lord Bridges of Headley repeated a Government statement on the judicial ruling that Parliament must trigger the process for leaving the European Union (Article 50). The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, asked a follow-up question.

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, it has been said that 17 million people voted in favour of leaving the EU; that still leaves a very divided country. Not everybody who voted to remain can be assumed to be trying to thwart the decision of the British people simply by asking legitimate questions. Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds responds to statement on Article 50 ruling”

Bishop of Durham highlights workload faced by children’s social workers

Bp Durham June 2015 bOn 7th November 2016, Lord Laming asked the Government “what steps they are taking to ensure that children in local authority care are placed in a location close to their extended family and current school.” The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler, asked a supplementary question.

The Lord Bishop of Durham: Does the Minister agree that children’s social workers do a fantastically good job, but one of the difficulties they face is their sheer workload, which means that their monitoring of children in care is not as adequate as it is should be? Continue reading “Bishop of Durham highlights workload faced by children’s social workers”

Church Commissioners Written Answer: Disposal of Land

Caroline SpelmanOn 1st November 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Stewart Jackson MP about progress towards disposing of Church land in Peterborough.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Answer: Disposal of Land”

Bishop of Ely asks Government about educational support for disabled young people

Ely 2On 31st October 2016, the Bishop of Ely, the Rt Rev Stephen Conway, received a written answer from Lord Nash (Department for Education), to a question about educational support and careers advice provided to disabled young people.

Lord Bishop of Ely: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that schools, further education colleges and universities are able to provide specialist careers advice and support for disabled young people. Continue reading “Bishop of Ely asks Government about educational support for disabled young people”

Bishop of Portsmouth asks Government to look at impact on schools of increasing business rates on small solar panels

portsmouth241016On 27th October 2016 Baroness Featherstone asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they will reverse their decision to end the business rate exemption for small solar panels from April 2017”. Baroness Featherstone said “I urge the Government to look at the impact on schools and parish councils, which will be devastating”. The Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Revd Christopher Foster, asked a follow up question: 

The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, may I press the Minister a little further on the impact—perhaps, I am hoping, the unintended impact—of this decision on some small schools? Is it really intended that small schools should pay business rates, often after significant community fundraising to install solar panels to increase awareness among children and young people of climate-change issues? Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth asks Government to look at impact on schools of increasing business rates on small solar panels”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about rural fuel poverty

St Albans 2On 25th October 2016 Baroness Donaghy asked Her Majesty’s Government “what is their estimate of the number of households currently in fuel poverty; and what action they intend to take to reduce that number.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, there is a particular problem with fuel poverty in rural areas, particularly remote rural areas. What steps are Her Majesty’s Government taking to promote the use of renewable forms of heating, especially in off-grid areas in the countryside? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about rural fuel poverty”

Bishop of Bristol asks about the expertise required for exiting the EU

Bristol160226 cOn Monday 24th October 2016, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, the Lord Privy Seal, repeated a statement on the European Council. The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Rev Mike Hill, asked a follow up question.

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Baroness for repeating the Prime Minister’s Statement. She has emphasised something that all noble Lords will recognise: this is a matter of huge complexity. To articulate one anxiety, the noble Baroness said that we are the first country to leave the EU—I do not know whether she regards that as a notable first—but, if it is as complex to leave the EU as your Lordships’ House believes, can she assure us that somewhere there is the expertise necessary to enter into negotiations of complexity in such a way that will really benefit the people of the United Kingdom? Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks about the expertise required for exiting the EU”

Bishop of Portsmouth asks Government for assurances about safety of child refugees in Calais


portsmouth241016On Monday 24th October, Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty’s Government “what steps they are taking to fulfil the obligation under the Immigration Act 2016 to accept unaccompanied child refugees before the camps at Calais and Dunkirk are demolished on 31 October.” The Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Rev Christopher Foster, asked a follow up question.

The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: Can the Minister confirm that Her Majesty’s Government will ensure sufficient co-operation with the French Government and sufficient assistance from our own Government for the support of unaccompanied child refugees in France? Can she also confirm that no child will at any time be left in unsafe circumstances? Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth asks Government for assurances about safety of child refugees in Calais”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about link between fixed odds betting terminals and rise in violent crime at betting shops

On 20th October 2016, the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a question in the House of Lords about steps being taken to prevent those at risk of gambling-related harm. His follow up question and those from other members of the House are below:

St Albans 2The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to protect those at risk of gambling-related harm.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord Ashton of Hyde) (Con): My Lords, the Government are committed to ensuring that people are protected from being harmed or exploited by gambling and that those who require treatment receive it. The industry is required to contribute towards research, education and treatment programmes to prevent gambling harm. The majority of provision for treatment is through responsible gambling trusts and the funding of organisations such as GamCare, which provides helpline and counselling services. Local treatment can also be found through GPs and NHS clinics.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: I thank the Minister for his Answer. Gambling-related harm is not restricted to people with problem gambling—it affects family, it affects friends, it affects even people who work in gambling shops. I recently put in a freedom of information request to the Metropolitan Police which revealed that since 2010 there has been a 68% rise in violent crime associated with betting shops across the capital. In the light of that, will the Minister tell the House what assessment the Government have made of the link between this rapid rise in violent crime associated with betting shops and the increase in the number of fixed-odds betting terminals in those shops? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about link between fixed odds betting terminals and rise in violent crime at betting shops”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about case of Asia Bibi

St Albans 2On 20th October 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question of Government about the case of Asia Bibi in Pakistan.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about the imminent appeal hearing for Asia Bibi at the Pakistani Supreme Court on the charge of blasphemy. [HL2175] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about case of Asia Bibi”