On the 22nd December 2015 Baroness Lister of Burtersett asked Her Majesty’s Government “how they propose to respond to the results of the Evaluation of Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy: Final Report.” The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith asked a supplementary question.
Category: Questions
Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
Bishop of Peterborough highlights importance of social cohesion in countering terrorism
On 21st December 2015 Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether, as part of their antiterrorism strategy, they will encourage leaders of the United Kingdom’s Muslim communities to identify, confront and expose their violent co-religionists.” The Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question: Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough highlights importance of social cohesion in countering terrorism”
Bishop of St Albans asks Government about private sponsorship schemes for Syrian refugees
On 17th December 2015 Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they will follow the example of the government of Canada in welcoming further Syrian refugees”. The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I congratulate the Government on the first 1,000 refugees being brought in. I hope that this will continue apace. On the Question of the noble Lord, Lord Roberts, which draws on the experience of Canada, since 1979 the Canada private sponsorship programme has enabled 200,000 refugees to be settled in that country. Privately sponsored refugees are likely to make up around 40% of those coming in over the forthcoming months. It is a good example of big society, whereby churches and community groups are given responsibility for working with resettlement programmes. Have Her Majesty’s Government looked into the experience of Canada, and are they considering developing similar programmes in the UK based on that good experience? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about private sponsorship schemes for Syrian refugees”
Church Commissioner Questions – Syrian refugees, fossil fuel investments, hedgehogs
On the 17th December 2015 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, answered four oral questions in the House of Commons about Syrian refugees, fossil fuel investments and the protection of hedgehogs.
Bishop of Coventry asks about freedom of religion and belief in Iraq
On 16th December 2015 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions on religious freedom in Iraq.
The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Iraq’s National Identity Law, and the impact that it will have on religious minorities in Iraq and their right to freedom of religion or belief.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We are concerned by Iraq’s proposed National Identity Law, in particular Article 26 which could restrict freedom of religion or belief, which is a basic human right. We welcome the resolution adopted by the majority of the Iraqi Council of Representatives on 17 November declaring its intention to amend the law. The National Identity Law is yet to be discussed since Parliament has been in recess. We will continue to monitor this issue closely. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about freedom of religion and belief in Iraq”
Bishop of Peterborough calls for culture change in way NHS treats those with learning disabilities
On 15th December 2015 Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust’s decision to list Down’s syndrome as a reason to issue a Do Not Resuscitate order to a patient.” The Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question.
The Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, from these Benches we affirm that those with Down’s syndrome and other learning disabilities and handicaps are fully human and fully made in the image of God. We believe that the chief mark of a civilised society is the way it cares for the most vulnerable. Can the Government, through the Minister, indicate what they can do to change the culture, training and attitudes within the NHS—and perhaps within society more widely—to make sure that mistakes such as the one made by this junior doctor are not made again? Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough calls for culture change in way NHS treats those with learning disabilities”
Bishop of Coventry asks Government about financial cost of UK air strikes in Iraq and Syria
On 15th December 2015 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received answers to two written questions to Government on the cost of air strikes in Iraq and Syria.
The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the financial cost to date of UK air strikes against Daesh in Iraq.
Earl Howe: It is not possible to separate out the costs of military action in Iraq from that of wider counter-Daesh operations due to the inter-related nature of UK military activity. The net additional cost of UK counter-Daesh operations to date is approximately £150 million. This includes around £80 million for military operations between August 2014 – 31 March 2015 and a net additional cost to date in this financial year of around £70 million. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about financial cost of UK air strikes in Iraq and Syria”
Bishop of Bristol asks about case for airport expansion
On 14th December a statement from the Secretary of State for Transport on Airport Expansion was repeated in the House of Lords. The Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, asked a follow-up question.
The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, can the Minister comment on the remarks made by the chief executive officer of International Airlines Group, who said that as far as the airlines are concerned there is basically no business case at all for the extension of Gatwick? Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks about case for airport expansion”
Bishop of Ely asks Government about academy conversions and church land
On 14th December Baroness Pinnock asked the Government “whether, if a faith school is rated inadequate and is required to become an academy, they will enforce the transfer of church land to the academy trust.” The Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Steven Conway, asked a follow-up question.
The Lord Bishop of Ely: My Lords, can the Minister expand on the nature and character of the safeguards being provided, given that the prime issue around this land is not the land itself but that it has been given by parishes and generations of generous citizens to guarantee the religious character of those schools? Continue reading “Bishop of Ely asks Government about academy conversions and church land”
Bishop of Chester asks question on Sunday Trading
On the 14th December Baroness Deech asked the Government “whether they have plans to reform Sunday trading laws.” The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, asked a follow-up question.
The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, would a useful reform be to go back to the good old days when people were paid double time for working on Sunday; then, shops, in the main, would not want to open? If I introduced a Private Member’s Bill, would the Government support me? Continue reading “Bishop of Chester asks question on Sunday Trading”
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