Questions – Page 43 – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of London asks about addressing health inequalities

The Bishop of London asked a question on addressing wider issues in health inequalities in relation to healthy eating on 18th March 2025, during a discussion on the success of the soft drinks industry levy:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, we know well that diet and nutrition, and the infrastructure from which we can access the food that we eat, determine our health. These things continue to be unequal. The proportion of household income required to afford to follow the Eatwell Guide is 11% in the least deprived areas and 45% in the most deprived areas. What consideration will be given in the NHS plan to these wider issues—including the merits of reformulation policies—to improve the critical determinants of health?

Bishop of London highlights needs of older women in strategies to prevent violence against women and girls

The Bishop of London asked a question on the need to include older women in the government’s strategy to prevent violence against women and girls on 17th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, the most recent Femicide Census notes that cases of older women who are killed and subject to extreme sexual violence are often seen as not newsworthy. The charity Hourglass, which works to reduce the abuse of older people in the UK, has experienced an increase in calls by 50% over the last two years. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that older women are not forgotten in the development of their strategy?

Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham received the following written answer on 17th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the changes to the system for reclaiming VAT on listed places of worship on projects which have already signed a contract and where the work has begun, such as St Mary Magdalene Church in Newark.

Bishop of Southwark asks new Israeli legislation concerning the ICC

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 17th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the government of Israel regarding the Protection of Israeli Public Officials from the Action of the International Criminal Court in The Hague against the State of Israel Bill 2024.

Bishop of Leeds asks about threat of Daesh in Iraq

The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answers on 17th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support people in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq who are internally displaced because of the threat posed by Daesh.

Bishop of Sheffield asks about overseas development aid

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answer on 17th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government, following the recent announcement of the diversion of funds from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to the defence budget, whether they plan to decrease the proportion of ODA spent on in-donor refugee support.

Bishop of Southwark asks about reconstruction plan for Gaza

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 14th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the peace and reconstruction plan for Gaza that was endorsed by the Arab League summit on 4 March.

Bishop of Lichfield asks about consultation on new definition of Islamophobia

The Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on government plans for consultation with Muslim communities and wider society in providing a definition of Islamophobia on 13th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, I welcome the Government’s launch of a new working group to provide a definition of Islamophobia. I ask the Minister: whom does this group plan to consult, both within and beyond the Islamic community, to inform that definition and ensure that it accounts for the lived experience of the Muslim community?

Bishop of Southwark asks about impact of Israeli legislation on aid to Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 13th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact of the Associations Bill (Amendment—Donation from Foreign State Entity) 2024, currently before the Knesset, on the United Kingdom’s overseas development assistance to Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisations.

Bishop of St Albans asks about drug related crime in rural communities

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 13th March:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to tackle drug-related crime in rural communities.

Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab, Home Office): The Government recognises the considerable impact of drug use and dealing on individuals, families and communities in rural and urban constituencies. Tackling this is a vital part of our missions to deliver safer streets and improve health outcomes, and that is why we are taking a collaborative, cross-government approach to drugs at a national level.

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