Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Leeds asks Government about Daesh atrocities, Iraq and Kurdistan

LeedsOn 5th April 2016 the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, received written answers to five questions to Government on Daesh atrocities, Iraq and Kurdistan:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of the use of chemical weapons by Daesh in Iraq.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: There are credible reports that Daesh has used chemical weapons in Iraq. The Government of Iraq, with support from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), investigated allegations of chemical weapons use in Iraq last year and has concluded that sulphur mustard was used against Peshmerga fighters on 11 August 2015. Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks Government about Daesh atrocities, Iraq and Kurdistan”

Bishop of Coventry asks Govt about religious freedom, reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq

13.10 Bishop of CoventryOn 5th April 2016 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to three questions on religious freedom, and post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent of freedom of religion or belief in Iraq and in Iraqi Kurdistan. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Govt about religious freedom, reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq”

Bishop of Southwark asks about humanitarian aid and displaced persons in Iraq

BishSouthwarktaxcreditsOn 1st April 2016 the Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, received three written answers on Iraq, aid and displaced persons:

The Lord Bishop Of Southwark: What percentage of the Department for International Development’s humanitarian effort in Iraq has been transferred to partners and agencies working in Iraq. [HL7308] Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about humanitarian aid and displaced persons in Iraq”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government about humanitarian aid for those fleeing conflict in Iraq

Bp Coventry May 2015On Friday 1 April the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received a written answer to a question on humanitarian assistance in Iraq:

The Lord Bishop Of Coventry: What steps they are taking to ensure that they have sufficient measures in place to meet any humanitarian need arising from military efforts to liberate Mosul from Daesh. [HL7270] Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about humanitarian aid for those fleeing conflict in Iraq”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about support for rural transport

On 22nd March 2016 Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the levels of service provision and council tax following local authority budget decisions for 2016–17.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question about rural bus services.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, recently the Campaign for Better Transport has estimated that local authority subsidies for rural bus services are likely to be cut this year alone by £27 million. In Hertfordshire, where I live and work, there have been cuts since 2010 of 62%. Forty rural bus services have seen radical declines and 14 have gone altogether. While I recognise some of the things the Government are doing, not least the serious increase in the rural services delivery grant, will the Minister tell your Lordships’ House the long-term plans of Her Majesty’s Government to engage with local authorities to ensure that we have proper rural transport as one of the essential elements of rural sustainability? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about support for rural transport”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about disability living allowance appeals

Bishop of St AlbansOn 22nd March the Bishop of St Albans received two written answers to questions on Disability Living Allowance appeals.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many individuals who previously claimed a motability allowance under the Disability Living Allowance have (1) lost that allowance after being reassessed for Personal Independence Payments, and (2) kept that allowance after being reassessed for Personal Independence Payments. [HL6794] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about disability living allowance appeals”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about case of Asia Bibi

On 21st March 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on the case of Asia Bibi.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case of Asia Bibi, currently sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy. [HL6793]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office remains concerned about the case of Ms Bibi and continues to follow her appeal process closely. The Supreme Court suspended the death sentence to allow for appeal in July 2015, but she does not yet have a hearing date.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about case of Asia Bibi”

Bishop of St Albans praises work of credit unions in schools

On 17th March 2016  Lord Young of Cookham asked Her Majesty’s Government, “following their announcement concerning the Help to Save scheme, how many people in work and receiving either Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit are expected to benefit from that scheme.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:

Bishop St Albans June 2015The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, will the Minister affirm the importance, in addition to the Help to Save scheme, of the increasing number of credit unions which routinely go into schools to try and create a culture of saving from the very earliest age, to address the endemic problem of a presupposition of debt? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans praises work of credit unions in schools”

Church Commissioners’ Questions: mission, help for work, sustainable energy, women’s leadership, cathedrals

On 17th March 2016 MPs put questions to Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, representing the Church Commissioners. Questions were asked on mission in deprived areas, helping ex-offenders into work, sustainable energy, women’s leadership in the church and the contribution of cathedrals to cultural and economic life. A transcript is below.

Spelman CCQs June 2015 4 Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ Questions: mission, help for work, sustainable energy, women’s leadership, cathedrals”

Bishop of Durham calls on Government to speed up reception of unaccompanied refugee children

Bp Durham June 2015 bOn 16th March 2016 Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon asked Her Majesty’s Government “what is their assessment of the current refugee crisis in Europe in the light of the regional election results in Germany that indicate gains for the anti-migrant Alternative für Deutschland party.” The Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, asked a follow up question: 

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, does the Minister support the speeding-up of the reception of unaccompanied minors who have a family reunification right to come to this country? Will the Government explore further reunifications and accepting more unaccompanied minors into this country?

Continue reading “Bishop of Durham calls on Government to speed up reception of unaccompanied refugee children”