Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans Calls for Government Support for Voter Registration

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:

Bishop of St AlbansThe 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)

Bishop of Worcester calls for greater communication over local welfare assistance schemes

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:

WorcesterThe 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?
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: In response to the right reverend Prelate, as I said earlier, I am of course aware of the debate and look forward to that later today. It is for local authorities to set their priorities, and we have been responding directly to local authorities; it was part of the consultation after the initial settlement. I myself met with several local authorities. The issue of welfare provision was high on their list, and the Government have responded accordingly.
(via Parliament.uk)

St Albans- Support for Vulnerable Defendants (Written Answer)

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.

Bishop of St AlbansThe 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)”

Church Commissioner Question – Church Repair and Maintainance (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.

Tony Baldry MPAndrew 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)

Statement on Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse – Bishop of Carlisle Responds

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:

14.06.09 Bishop of CarlisleThe 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”

Archbishop of Canterbury praises UK contribution to tackling Ebola in West Africa

On 4th February 2015, Lord Collins of Highbury asked Her Majesty’s Government what recent progress they have made on tackling Ebola in West Africa. The Archbishop of Canterbuy, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, asked a supplementary question:

Archbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, during a pastoral visit to Sierra Leone in mid-December, I heard affirmation of the extraordinary commitment of British forces and British work in that country. There was much expression of admiration and gratitude. There was also much concern about future outbreaks of Ebola. What thinking have the Government given to how future outbreaks might be prevented?

Baroness Northover: I am very pleased to see the most reverend Primate in his place—a number of us were extremely concerned when he came back from Sierra Leone and was not himself well, so it is great to see him here. He is absolutely right: the international community is focusing on trying to ensure that we do not find ourselves in this situation again. The WHO has looked at its own reform and other international bodies will too, but it is vital that we learn the lessons of this particular epidemic.

(via Parliament.uk)

St Albans – Social Security Benefits (Written Answers)

On 4th February 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to four written questions on the subject of social security benefits.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made to implement the changes announced in December 2014 to provide more information about Short Term Benefit Advances online and in Jobcentres and to update the guidance on Short Term Benefit Advances for Jobcentre advisers.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures they have put in place to monitor the effectiveness of changes to the information and guidance provided on Short Term Benefit Advances in helping to raise awareness of Short Term Benefit Advances among potential claimants. Continue reading “St Albans – Social Security Benefits (Written Answers)”

Bishop of St Albans supports stronger relationship between credit unions and schools

On 3rd February 2015, Lord Kennedy of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government when they plan further reform of the law regarding Credit Unions. The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I imagine many of us are concerned about the culture of debt that seems to be normative in many parts of our society. In the light of this, can the Minister tell us whether the Government have any plans, first, to encourage all schools to consider working closely with credit unions, as in the case of the credit union in St. Albans, where I come from and, secondly, to further roll out and encourage payroll savings schemes as part of a wider initiative to encourage saving and financial responsibility across society?

Lord Newby: My Lords, the Government support both those concepts. The right reverend Prelate will be aware that the Government have been working with the Archbishop of Canterbury’s task force on affordable credit and savings to institute the LifeSavers project, under which primary schools are working with credit unions to encourage young children into good savings habits and raise awareness of credit unions.

(via Parliament.uk)

Church Commissioners – Bishops (Written Answer)

On 2nd February 2015, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry MP, answered a written question on the consecration of Bishops in the Church of England.

Tony Baldry MPChi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central, Labour): To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Commissioners have had with Church of England bishops on the laying on of hands during the consecration of (a) female and (b) male bishops; and if he will make a statement.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry): The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York have always had the power to delegate to another bishop their role as chief consecrator. The five guiding principles of the House of Bishops’ declaration which underpinned General Synod’s agreement to women bishops clearly provided a framework to make it possible for arrangements to develop for the Church of England to maintain the highest possible degree of communion and contribute to mutual flourishing across all the diverse traditions that exist. Paragraph 30 of the House of Bishops’ declaration gave a very clear commitment to continuing the supply of traditionalist Catholic Bishops and Headship Evangelical Bishops.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans – Home Office Written Answer (Vulnerable Women)

On 2nd February 2015, the Bishop of St Albans received an answer to a written question on legislation relating to the criminalisation of the purchase of sex.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 17 December 2014 (HL3283), whether they will now state what consideration they have given to introducing or amending legislation to criminalise the purchase of sex in order to protect vulnerable women.

Lord Bates: With regard to prostitution, the Government focus is on harm minimisation and I refer to my answer of 17 December 2014 to question HL3283 on this matter.

(via Parliament.uk)