Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Durham asks Government about response to conflict in Burundi

On 22nd February 2016 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received three written answers to questions about conflict and aid in Burundi.

Bp Durham June 2015 bThe Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have deployed, or intend to deploy, experts from the UK preventing sexual violence in conflict initiative team to help support local responses in Burundi to conflict related sexual violence. [HL5829]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We take the allegations of sexual violence in Burundi very seriously. The UK has been at the forefront of supporting the UN’s efforts to encourage an end to violence and human rights abuses in the country. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government about response to conflict in Burundi”

Bishop of Worcester warns of risk of counterproductive responses to freedom of speech concerns at universities

On 22nd February 2016 Baroness Deech asked Her Majesty’s Government “what steps they are taking to ensure freedom of lawful speech at universities, in the light of recent disruptions to speeches.” She made reference in her follow up question to “incidents of intolerance and violence” on campuses, including “the silencing of a female Muslim reformer at Goldsmiths; smashed glass, fire alarms set off and the police called at King’s College London to stop an Israeli peace activist from speaking; Peter Tatchell at Canterbury and other examples”. She asked the Minister to speak to vice-chancellors “to ensure that the law on freedom of speech is upheld”. The Bishop of Worcester, Rt Revd John Inge, asked a follow up question:

worcesterThe Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, now is not the time for confessions but I would observe that as an undergraduate, I saw things in very black and white terms. I do not now, despite what might be suggested by my attire. I would have loved to have been rebuked by Parliament as an undergraduate. Does the Minister agree that in intervening in situations such as these, we run the risk of being counterproductive? Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester warns of risk of counterproductive responses to freedom of speech concerns at universities”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about the future of internet access in libraries

On the 11th February 2016 Lord Greaves asked the Government  “what assessment they have made of the impact of the Local Government Finance Settlement on the provision of libraries”. The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, the Minister has twice mentioned the changing nature of libraries. Of course, they are not just about books. Nowadays, they are a major and vital source for internet access, especially in poorer areas, where people need them to apply for jobs and where fewer households have broadband. Especially in rural areas where broadband coverage is much lower, they are a vital part of rural sustainability. The Government are rolling out broadband very quickly, and that is encouraging, but it does need time. What support are they giving to those vital online centres, many of which are closely related to libraries or in libraries, both for the sake of heritage but also for the sake of our economy?

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about the future of internet access in libraries”

Bishop of Durham asks about plans to protect refugees from Burundi from radicalisation

14.06.10 Bishop of Durham 5On 11th February 2016 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, recieved a written answer to a question on Burundian refugees.

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those refugees from Burundi now living in camps in neighbouring countries do not become politicised and radicalised. [HL5831] Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about plans to protect refugees from Burundi from radicalisation”

Bishop of Chester recalls ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ of compulsory school milk

14.03 Bishop of ChesterOn the 10th February 2016 Lord Storey asked the Government “whether they plan to legislate to ensure that food and drink provided in all types of schools follow Food Standards Agency food and nutritional guidelines”. The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, asked a follow up question.

The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, if free milk is to be made available again in schools, with the Minister confirm that it would not be compulsory? For some of us it contains memories of a cruel and unusual punishment.

Continue reading “Bishop of Chester recalls ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ of compulsory school milk”

Bishop of Chester asks Government about parental engagement with PSHE

On the 10th February 2016 Baroness Massey of Darwen asked the Government “what steps they propose to take to make Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education compulsory within the curriculum”. The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, asked a follow up question.

14.03 Bishop of ChesterThe Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, although I agree with all that the Minister has said in response to the questions, is it not the case that engaging parents—making sure that what is taught in schools relates to and engages parents as much as possible—is also important to any government action which may be forthcoming in the future? Continue reading “Bishop of Chester asks Government about parental engagement with PSHE”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about housebuilding in flood areas

StAlbans171115On the 10th February 2016 the Bishop of St Albans received two written answers about housing and flooding.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many new housing developments were built in the period 2010 to 2015 against advice given by the Environment Agency. [HL5516] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about housebuilding in flood areas”

Bishop of Rochester says regenerating housing estates is about investing in more than just buildings

On 9th February 2016 Baroness Janke asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they will provide further information on their proposals for renewal or replacement of failed housing estates, following the announcement by the Prime Minister of £140 million funding; and whether any additional funding will be made available.” The Bishop of Rochester, Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a follow up question:

RochesterThe Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, I speak as one who lived on one of these estates for some 10 years in the 1980s and 1990s at a time when significant public money was invested in that estate. My memory, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, is that we probably gave relatively too much attention to physical investment and not enough to investment in other kinds of infrastructure. Will the Minister assure me that, while attention is given to the physical fabric, whether that is new or renewed, equal attention—maybe even over and above the £140 million, or another £140 million—will be given to such matters as educational, social and economic infrastructure?

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The right reverend Prelate makes a really good point about regeneration being about not just the physical structures that are in place but some of the social structures that are in place to support communities, and other amenities, as he said, such as schools, hospitals and GP surgeries, that so often are not thought about when we think about regeneration.

(via Parliament.uk)

 

Bishop of Rochester asks about unaccompanied refugee children

On 8th February 2016, Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked the government “what action they are taking to relieve the situation of unaccompanied refugee children.” The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a follow up question.

RochesterThe Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, as one of the bishops from Kent, may I take the Minister back to his previous answer? In fact, some 1,300 unaccompanied refugee children are housed in Kent, and the local authorities and the voluntary agencies are under very significant pressure. May I push him a little as to whether, in the light of the somewhat unencouraging response from other local authorities, Her Majesty’s Government intend to do anything else to ensure a more effective national dispersal programme—given that we are talking not just about this moment, but about the likely 10 years that will be needed to get a young person from the point of arrival to full integration, with all the work in education, language and healthcare needed to go with that, and the considerable investment required? Some assurance would help my colleagues in Kent. Continue reading “Bishop of Rochester asks about unaccompanied refugee children”

Written answer: Debt and poverty campaign groups, Blackburn diocese

Church CommissionersOn 5th February 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, responded to a written question from Mark Hendrick MP:

Mr Mark Hendrick(Preston): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, on how many occasions buildings or parts of buildings have been made available by the Diocese of Blackburn and churches within its boundaries to (a) Christians Against Poverty and (b) other organisations providing debt counselling and employment services or campaigning against poverty. Continue reading “Written answer: Debt and poverty campaign groups, Blackburn diocese”