Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
On 23rd February 2015, the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, received answers to three written questions on the situation in Gaza.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the funding available to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in Gaza. [HL4862] Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark – Gaza (Written Answers)”
On 12th February 2015, Lord Dubs to ask Her Majesty’s Government what further steps they are taking to reduce the number of residential properties left vacant by their owners. The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a supplementary question:
The Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, the contributions already made have underlined the importance of this and the potential for tackling some of the issues in the housing market and the lack of housing. While this may be a relatively small part of that, is the Minister aware of schemes such as the Houses into Homes initiative in Wales, which uses recyclable loans mainly to private individuals and has managed to return some 2,000 empty homes to use since 2012? Do the Government have further plans to encourage such initiatives, particularly those that are at a local level and involve private individuals and the voluntary sector? Continue reading “Bishop of Rochester commends ‘Houses into Homes’ initiative to reduce levels of empty housing”
On 12th February 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on the subject of press freedom in Egypt.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Egypt, following the release of Peter Greste, on behalf of Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed. [HL4586]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns): The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), make regular representations to the Egyptian government to press them to take further action to ensure the release of other journalists from prison, to release political detainees and to relax restrictions on civil society. The Foreign Secretary made a press statement on 2 February welcoming the release of Peter Greste but stating his concern that Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed remain in detention. He called on the Egyptian authorities to review their cases and the sentences of those tried in absentia as a matter of urgency. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans – Egypt (Written Answer)”
On 11th February 2015, Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of local enterprise partnerships on the economy and key skills in their local areas. The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd John Inge, asked a supplementary question:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, does the Minister agree that the involvement of the third sector in local enterprise partnerships is very enriching? As that involvement is very varied across the nation, would she be prepared to monitor the involvement of, and the partnership with, the third sector, as part of an assessment of the progress of LEPs?
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills): As I have said, the composition of a local enterprise partnership is very much a matter for the LEP, provided that it is business led and brings in local democracy with the local authorities. Otherwise, we draw on people who can help with growth and skills, and certainly there are those in the third sector who bring great strength to these areas.
(Via Parliament.uk)
On 11th February 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on the Government’s collection of data on forced marriage.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to gather data on the number of girls under the legal age of marriage who had married abroad and have been brought back to the United Kingdom, as part of the work of the Forced Marriage Unit.
Baroness Anelay of St John’s – Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office): The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) provides a range of support and assistance in cases where British nationals are at risk of forced marriage abroad. In 2013, the FMU gave advice or support related to a possible forced marriage in 1302 cases. Where the age was known, 15% of cases involved victims below 16 years and 25% involved victims aged 16-17. Where a victim is repatriated back to the UK, this is individually recorded on case notes.
(Via Parliament.uk)
On 11th February 2015, Lord Storey asked Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to allow pupils to register to vote in schools, sixth form and further education colleges. The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a supplementary question:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for referring to last week’s National Voter Registration Day. As part of that, I went into Townsend School in St Albans with two dynamic members of Bite the Ballot, who were able to bring the whole thing alive in an interactive and very lively session. They handed out registration forms at the end and offered to take them back in—so they are already doing this sort of work. Have Her Majesty’s Government considered supporting that organisation and other similar ones that are already doing this work in a very creative way?
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Cabinet Office): My Lords, I have played the game Rock Enrol!, and I hope that a lot of other noble Lords have done so, too. It demonstrates to young people how politics matters to them. I hope that that is going on all over the place. The Government have their own version of this, and Bite the Ballot has adapted another one. We are discussing with Bite the Ballot the question of support and we very much encourage what it and a number of other organisations are doing to bring young people back into being interested and involved in politics.
(Via Parliament.uk)
On 10th February 2015, Baroness Lister of Burtersett asked Her Majesty’s Government what has been the response to their consultation on the future financing of local welfare assistance schemes. The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd John Inge, asked a supplementary question:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, the Minister might be aware that the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Truro has secured a debate on this issue this evening, which I welcome. In the mean time, in the absence of ring-fencing, will the Minister undertake to write to local authorities to highlight the £129 million allocation for local welfare provisions within the local government settlement, and the additional £74 million to which reference has been made, to ensure that local authorities have the resources they need to assist those most in need, and to encourage them to use them?On 10th February 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on the subject of support for vulnerable defendants in the criminal justice system.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that support is made available for vulnerable defendants by registered intermediaries in the criminal justice system, as currently is the case for vulnerable witnesses.
Continue reading “St Albans- Support for Vulnerable Defendants (Written Answer)”
On 9th February 2015, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry, answered a written question from Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George, on the subject of chancel repair liability.
Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2015 to Question 222329, how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful claims have been made by parochial church councils in court against lay rectors for recovery of chancel repair liability from 1 January 1985; and what amount was recovered. [223121]
The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Sir Tony Baldry): I refer to the answer I gave to Written Question 222328. Each Parochial Church Council is an independent legal entity and no central record is kept relating to the number of claims made against lay rectors for the recovery of chancel repair liability as this is dealt with at a local parish level. The Church Commissioners are only aware of the case where the Parochial Church Council of Aston Cantlow and Wilmcote with Billesley was awarded £187,000 plus VAT.
(via Parliament.uk)
On 4th February 2015, a Government Statement on the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was repeated in the House of Lords by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, Lord Bates. The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, responded to the statement from the Bishops’ Benches:
The Lord Bishop of Carlisle: My Lords, I am afraid that this is not a question but a brief statement, if I may. On behalf of the Church of England, we welcome—
Noble Lords: Would the Minister agree!
The Lord Bishop of Carlisle: Thank you very much. Would the Minister agree that we in the Church of England welcome this inquiry hugely as well as the appointment of a new chair? We acknowledge our own failures as a church in the past, and assure the House that we have already instituted our own inquiries well in advance of the establishing of this panel. We will of course co-operate with the panel in absolutely every way we can. Continue reading “Statement on Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse – Bishop of Carlisle Responds”
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.