Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about fuel bill home budgeting

On Thursday 18th June the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question to Government on fuel bills and Fuel Direct.

 Bishop St Albans June 2015The Lord Bishop of St Albans To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the affordability of a standard Fuel Direct rate of £3.70 for direct payments for arrears on fuel bills; and whether in setting that rate they considered (1) allowing some customers to pay a lower rate of direct deduction, and (2) allowing customers to pay by Fuel Direct for ongoing bills when they are not in arrears. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about fuel bill home budgeting”

Church Commissioners’ Questions: church buildings, Christians in Iran, clergy wellbeing, General Synod diversity

On 18th June 2015 the Rt. Hon Caroline Spelman MP answered questions from MPs as Second Church Estates Commissioner. Mrs Spelman, who was answering questions for the first time since taking on the role, was asked  about improving the sustainability of church buildings, Christians in Iran, the wellbeing of clergy and the diversity of the General Synod of the Church of England. Mrs Spelman also paid tribute to the former Second Church Estates Commissioner the Rt. Hon Sir Tony Baldry and expressed sympathy for the Methodist Church in South Carolina following the recent tragic shootings.

The full text is available below and a video link is also available, hereSpelman CCQs June 2015 4

Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ Questions: church buildings, Christians in Iran, clergy wellbeing, General Synod diversity”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about regulating complaints about adverts aimed at children

On Wednesday 17th June 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written reply to a question to Government about regulating advertising to children.

Bishop St Albans June 2015The Lord Bishop of St Albans To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Impact Report 2015 by Bye Buy Childhood, what plans they have to work with the regulators to strengthen penalties against companies who repeatedly have complaints about their advertising upheld.  Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about regulating complaints about adverts aimed at children”

Bishop of Birmingham asks Government about action to prevent violence against women

On Tuesday 16th July 2015 Baroness Gale asked Her Majesty’s Government “what measures they are undertaking to ensure that women who have suffered domestic violence and abuse have access to the legal and emotional support they may require.” The Bishop of Birmingham, Rt Revd David Urquhart, asked a supplementary question.

01.04.14 Bishop of BirminghamThe Lord Bishop of Birmingham: My Lords, domestic violence against women is one of the largest abuses of women, not just in the UK but in the world. I would be interested if the Minister commented on the Government’s commitment to reaching such a diverse range of women, in spite of their ethnic background, religion or location, over the next few years. Continue reading “Bishop of Birmingham asks Government about action to prevent violence against women”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about reducing stakes for fixed odds betting terminals

On Tuesday 16th June 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on gaming machines.

Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans

Bishop of St Albans

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reducing the maximum stake for fixed odds betting terminals from £100 to £2.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about reducing stakes for fixed odds betting terminals”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about fuel poverty

On 15th June 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received two written answers from Government to questions about the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Bishop St Albans June 2015Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans:

(1) To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to providing eligible families with the Warm Home Discount automatically.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about fuel poverty”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about religious freedom in Saudi Arabia and case of Raif Badawi

On the 11th June 2015 Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty’s Government “what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia about the confirmation of a sentence of 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison against Raif Badawi.” The Bishop of St Albans , Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, your Lordships’ House will not be unaware of the discrepancy between the attitude to human rights displayed in Saudi Arabia’s public condemnation of the Charlie Hebdo atrocities and this case, where somebody is being punished on the basis of religion. Does the Minister agree that there is a considerable dissonance between the public image that Saudi Arabia is seeking to present and the country’s internal affairs?

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: My Lords, I think we have to recognise that the actions of the Saudi Government in these respects have the support of the vast majority of the Saudi population. Against that background, we maintain our view that freedom of religion and belief and freedom of expression are core rights that lead to long-term stability and good governance.

(via Parliament.uk)

Rules on bats in churches – Second Estates Commissioner asks DEFRA

On 10th June 2015 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, received a written answer to a question she had asked of DEFRA on bats in churches. 

Caroline SpelmanAsked by Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden) on: 04 June 2015

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bats: Churches

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the application and interpretation of provisions in the Habitats Directive on bats inhabiting church premises in other EU member states. Continue reading “Rules on bats in churches – Second Estates Commissioner asks DEFRA”

Right to buy and rural housing – Bishop of Rochester question to Government

On 9th June 2015 Baroness Gardner of Parkes asked the Government “what plans they have to consult Housing Associations, local authorities and the general public before finalising the proposal to extend the right to buy to Housing Association properties”. The Bishop of Rochester, Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of RochesterThe Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for confirming that intention to consult the sector. Is she able to offer any indication of how Her Majesty’s Government propose to implement this right to buy in relation to housing-association properties in small and rural communities, where such housing is often built on rural exception sites defined in the National Planning Policy Framework as intended,

“for affordable housing in perpetuity”?

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The right reverend Prelate is absolutely correct when he says that rural communities are different. The development of that particular policy is ongoing, and details will be set out in due course.

(via Parliament.uk)

Written answers: Female and LGBT clergy numbers in the CofE

On 8th June 2015 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, replied to two written parliamentary questions, on women and LGBT clergy.

Asked by Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) on: 02 June 2015

Clergy: Females

To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, how many members of the clergy in each of the last 10 years have been women.

Caroline SpelmanAnswered by: Mrs Caroline Spelman on: 08 June 2015

The most recent statistics available on the number of women in ordained ministry in the Church of England can be found in the table below. Continue reading “Written answers: Female and LGBT clergy numbers in the CofE”