Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans presses Government on child poverty strategy (Written Answer)

On 11th December 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer from the Department for Work and Pensions to two written questions on child poverty.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have carried out any forecasts of the level of child poverty between now and 2020; and if so, whether they will be made public.[HL3230]

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have calculated the impact on child poverty of the combined tax and benefit policy changes announced to date since May 2010.[HL3231] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans presses Government on child poverty strategy (Written Answer)”

Bishop of St Albans – Forced Marriage (Written Answer)

On 10th December 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on the subject of forced marriage.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will clarify the role of teachers in monitoring girls at risk of being forced into under-age marriage. [HL3494]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): All school staff have a responsibility to identify children who may be in need of extra help or who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm. All staff then have a responsibility to take appropriate action, working with other services as required. Those responsibilities, which apply to the risk of forced marriage as to any other form of abuse, are set out in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ statutory guidance for schools and their staff which the Government published in April 2014. [1] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans – Forced Marriage (Written Answer)”

Bishop of Chester calls for clarity on mesothelioma research funding

On 9th December 2014, Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty’s Government, following the decision of the High Court that the consultation on mesothelioma legal fees was unlawful, and the lack of new funding for mesothelioma research, what is their policy with regard to combating mesothelioma and supporting victims. The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, asked a supplementary question:

14.03 Bishop of ChesterThe Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, I encourage the Minister to answer the first part of the Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Alton, about why the percentage of the precept was reduced from the promised 3% to 2.2%.
Lord Faulks: The position with insurers is that they have provided money. I will have to write to both noble Lords and the right reverend Prelate about what has happened to that particular sum. The question of the use of research funds is difficult. We think that research funds should be spent in the most effective way, and we think that publicly funding research is much more appropriate than hypothecating against insurers’ particular sums.
(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of Derby commends recommendations of Children’s Commission on Poverty

On 8th December 2014, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of child poverty on children’s early years educational development. The Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of DerbyThe Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, has the Minister heard of the report At What Cost? produced by the Children’s Commission on Poverty, which is a group of young people supported by the Children’s Society? If the Minister has come across the report, what will the Government do about the recommendations in it?
Lord Nash: Again, I am afraid that I will have to write to the right reverend Prelate on that matter.
(via Parliament.uk)

 

Bishop of St Albans receives written answer on international violence against women convention

On 8th December 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government by what date they expect that departments and the devolved administrations will have completed their consideration of extra-territorial jurisdiction in respect of offences established in accordance with the Istanbul Convention.[HL3233]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks): This government takes its international obligations very seriously. That is why we signed the Istanbul Convention on 8 June 2012, to show our strong commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.

The UK has some of the most robust laws in the world against violence towards women and girls. We have criminalised forced marriage but primary legislation will also be needed to comply with the extra-territorial jurisdiction provisions in Article 44 of the Convention before it can be ratified.

Justice Ministers are currently considering the extent to which we need to amend the criminal law of England and Wales for compliance with Article 44 prior to ratification of the Convention.

Any changes necessary to the criminal law in Scotland and Northern Ireland prior to ratification are matters for the devolved administrations. We will consult Ministers in the devolved administrations about whether legislative changes in England and Wales should extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of Coventry – British Nationals Abroad: Armed Conflict (Written Answer)

On 8th December 2014, the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, recieved an answer to a written question on British nationals engaged in armed conflict abroad.

13.10 Bishop of CoventryThe Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the number of United Kingdom based jihadists travelling to the Middle East and North Africa has increased following the decision by Parliament to authorize the use of military force against ISIS in Iraq; and if so, what additional measures they are taking to halt the flow. [HL3102]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates): There is no evidence that the number of UK individuals travelling to the region has increased since the decision by Parliament to join the International Coalition action against ISIL in Iraq.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans – Sex-Selective Abortion (Written Answers)

On 5th December 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to two written questions on the topic of sex-selective abortion.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to ensure greater accuracy in gathering gender-correlated abortion statistics.[HL3171]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Sex of the fetus is not recorded on the HSA4 forms submitted to the Chief Medical Officer; the gender of the fetus is not known for most abortions.

The Department’s latest analysis of birth ratios data published in May found no evidence of sex selection taking place in the United Kingdom. However, we will continue to monitor birth ratios and consider any other evidence that comes to light. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans – Sex-Selective Abortion (Written Answers)”

Bishop of Coventry – Iran (Written Answer)

On 3rd December 2014, the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received an answer to a written question on the Baha’i community in Iran.

13.10 Bishop of CoventryThe Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the ability of members of the Baha’i community in Iran to bury their dead in accordance with the rituals of their faith.[HL3103]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns): The UK remains concerned over restrictions on freedom of religion in Iran. We were deeply concerned to learn of the destruction of a Baha’i cemetery in Shiraz, where approximately 950 Baha’is are buried. We continue to call for Iran to abide by its international commitments to ensure all Iranians are free to practice their religion without fear of persecution. This includes protection of religious sites. The UK last raised our concerns about freedom of religion in Iran during our inputs in Iran’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council on 31 October.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans – Social Security Benefits (Written Answer)

On 2 December 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on social security benefits:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact assessment they have made of further planned benefit freezes, including the impact on in-work poverty. [HL3232]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): This Government has no plans to further freeze benefits, so there are currently no plans to provide estimates of the potential effects or the impacts on in-work poverty.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of Coventry – Syria (Written Answer)

On 1st December 2014, the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received an answer to a written question on freedom of religion or belief in Syria.

13.10 Bishop of CoventryThe Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Foreign Secretary, in his meeting with Hadi al-Bahra on 10 November, discussed the Syrian Opposition’s commitment to guarantee freedom of religion or belief for all religious minorities in Syria.[HL3101]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns): These issues were not raised on this occasion. We have in the past pressed the National Coalition to be inclusive, respecting all sections of Syrian society including ethnic and religious minorities. The National Coalition has made strenuous efforts to broaden its membership base which includes Kurds, Christians and other religious and ethnic groups demonstrating that it has a democratic and pluralistic vision for Syria.

(via Parliament.uk)