Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Leicester commends community-building work of British Muslim

On 27th January 2015, Baroness Quin asked Her Majesty’s Government what recent assistance they have given to the rescue and recovery of the Nigerian girls abducted by Boko Haram. The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens, asked a supplementary question:
14.04.01 Bishop of LeicesterThe Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, will the Minister join me in expressing his appreciation of those moderate Muslims who have spoken out in this country against Boko Haram and in emphasising the continuing need to be proactive in drawing together those communities that would easily find themselves pitched against each other in our towns and cities?
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My Lords, I will happily join in that. Boko Haram has almost certainly killed more Muslims than it has Christians. It is very much a radical Muslim movement, which is as opposed to the Sultanate of Sokoto and the moderate Muslims in the north as it is to others.
(via Parliament.uk)

Written Answer from the Second Church Commission – Employment Tribunals Service

On 27th January 2015, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry MP, answered a written question on the subject of the Employment Tribunals Service:

Tony Baldry MPIan Murray (Edinburgh South, Labour): To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how much the Commissioners have spent on the Employment Tribunal action by the Reverend Mark Sharpe against the Bishop of Worcester and the Worcester Diocesan Board of Finance.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry): Owing to ongoing legal proceedings, the Church Commissioners are unable to comment on this case at present.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans – Saudi Arabia (Written Answer)

On 26th January 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia on behalf of Raif Bedawi. [HL4076]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office): We are seriously concerned by Raif Badawi’s case. The UK condemns the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in all circumstances. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) has raised the matter with the Saudi Ambassador. We have previously raised the case at a senior level with the Saudi authorities. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of expression around the world. We believe that people must be allowed to freely discuss and debate issues, peacefully challenge their governments, exercise the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and speak out against violations of human rights wherever they occur.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans- Child Marriage and Food Security (Written Answer)

On 21st January 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to written questions on the subject of milk production sustainability and data collection on child marriage.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure the long term sustainability of milk production in the United Kingdom. [HL3994] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans- Child Marriage and Food Security (Written Answer)”

Bishop of Peterborough asks about the encouragement of arts and humanities for the benefit of human flourishing

On the 20th January 2015 Baroness Kidron asked her Majestiy’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that arts subjects have equal weighting in the new Progress 8 measure. The Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister asked a supplementary question:

The 14.02 PeterboroughLord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, does the Minister agree that the encouragement of arts or liberal humanities subjects is for the benefit of human flourishing and is also essential for preventing the development of extremism in religion and politics, and is therefore to be positively encouraged by government?

Lord Nash: I agree entirely with the right reverend Prelate. A rich cultural education, a knowledge of history and an understanding of British values are all part of a good education and should help combat any temptation to radical ways of life.

(Via Parliament.UK)

Bishop of St Albans – Milk (Written Answer)

On 19th January 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on the subject of milk sustainability.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to strengthen United Kingdom food security through ensuring that the supply of liquid milk produced in the United Kingdom is sufficient to meet United Kingdom consumer demand, in order to reduce reliance on imported milk. [HL3996]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Milk commodity price increases during 2013 stimulated milk production in the UK (also in the EU and across the world). UK milk production for January to November 2014 was 9% up on the previous year and 7% higher than the average seen over the past 10 years. Liquid milk is expensive to transport and has a short lifespan in its raw state. UK imports are at very low levels: around 1% of total UK production. In 2013, the UK imported 132 million litres of raw milk, predominantly intra-trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Domestic production of liquid milk in the same period was 13.2 billion litres.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans raises concerns about sustainability of UK milk production

On 15th January 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked an oral question during question time in the House of Loreds on the long-term sustainability of milk production in the United Kingdom.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure the long-term sustainability of milk production in the United Kingdom.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): My Lords, we share farmers’ concerns over the pressures on milk prices caused by the volatility of the global market and we are working closely with industry. It is important to remember that the long-term prospects are good, with exports at record levels. We are helping the dairy industry take advantage of opportunities such as opening new export markets and pushing for better country of origin labelling for British dairy products. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans raises concerns about sustainability of UK milk production”

Bishop of St Albans – Written Answers (Egypt, prostitution and the Somerset Rivers Authority)

On 15th January 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to written questions on the subjects of religious freedom in Egypt, prostitution and the Somerset Rivers Authority.

Egypt

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt on behalf of Mohammed Hegazy. [HL3910]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns): We are concerned about the case of Mr Mohammed Hegazy, who converted to Christianity in 1998. We raised Mr Hegazy’s case at official level with the Egyptian Embassy in London on 7 January. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans – Written Answers (Egypt, prostitution and the Somerset Rivers Authority)”

Bishop of Lichfield praises impact of citizenship programmes for young people

On 14th January 2015, Lord Phillips of Sudbury asked Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to enhance the amount and quality of citizenship education in order to increase the democratic participation and engagement of young citizens. The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, asked a supplementary question:

14.03.27 Bishop of LichfieldThe Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, will the Minister join me in congratulating the young people highlighted by the I Will campaign, who have so ably demonstrated the impact that young people can have in transforming their own communities?

Lord Nash: I entirely agree with the right reverend Prelate. Active citizenship is an essential part of the citizenship national curriculum and all students should have the opportunity of participating in volunteering.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of Rochester calls for action on affordable housing in rural communities

On 12th January 2015, Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to safeguard village life. The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of RochesterThe Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, reference has been made at various points to housing. The Minister will be well aware of the importance for the sustainability and vitality of rural communities of a good mix of housing, housing tenure and so forth. Does he agree that community land trusts are a valuable and perhaps essential way of ensuring a continuing and permanent supply of affordable housing in rural communities? If so, what commitment have the Government made to increasing the number of such trusts? Continue reading “Bishop of Rochester calls for action on affordable housing in rural communities”