Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling marketing and regulation

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 24th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what assessment they have made of the gambling industry’s spending on advertising, sponsorship and marketing, including online forms of advertising and marketing such as content marketing.
  • what specific consideration they have given to the impact of gambling advertising, sponsorship, and marketing on children and young people.
  • what assessment they have made of the gambling industry’s self-regulation practices in relation to gambling advertising, sponsorship, and marketing.
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Bishop of London asks about priority register for utility services

The Bishop of London received the following written answer on 24th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of London asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the introduction of a universal priority services register for utility services.

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church Repair and Maintenance, Rural Areas, and Church Organs

On 21st March 2025, Marsha De Cordova MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Churches: Repairs and Maintenance

Kevin Hollinrake (Con, Thirsk and Malton): To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of the potential impact of the Law Commission’s consultation on burial and cremation, published on 3 October 2024, on the finances of local authorities taking over the maintenance of closed churchyards.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of reduction in pharmacy opening hours

On 20th March 2025, the Bishop of St Albans asked a question he had tabled on the impact of reduced pharmacy opening hours:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the potential reduction in pharmacy opening hours.

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Bishop of Leeds asks about freedom of religion and belief in Iraq

The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 20th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of freedom of religion or belief in Iraq; and what steps they are taking to support freedom of religion or belief in Iraq.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about education on the dangers of atomic weapons

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on marking VJ day and the need to educate people on the dangers of atomic weapons on 20th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, can the Minister say a little more about VJ Day? Outside St Albans Cathedral is the peace obelisk given by the people of Japan because of the courageous witness of the then dean, Dean Thicknesse. Each year, on 6 August, we have an ecumenical act of witness and prayers there. What is being done specifically to educate people about the dreadful carnage caused by atomic bombs and how we can build today a world that does not need to use them in the future?

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Bishop of London asks about prioritizing frontline patient care during NHS England transition

The Bishop of London asked a question on prioritising front line patient care during times of transition on 19th March 2025, following a government statement on NHS England:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I declare my interest as indicated by the noble Baroness, in that I am a former government Chief Nursing Officer. Following on from the noble Lord’s point, this is a very significant change not just to the NHS but to its workforce. We know from looking back that when there is a reorganisation of the NHS, attention and funds are distracted away from the front line and patient care. The announcement came on the same day as the publication of the NHS staff survey results, which highlighted that only 31% felt that there were enough staff to enable them to do their job, and that 45% felt unwell due to work-related stress. What action will the Government take to make sure that there is not a management distraction, through this reorganisation, away from the front line and patient care in particular? How will staff be supported during this transition, not least those who, I suspect, fear that their jobs are now under threat?

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Bishop of London asks about support for the voluntary sector in assisting integrated care boards

The Bishop of London asked a question on support for integrated care boards to enable VCSE involvement on 19th March 2025, during a discussion on barriers to safe housing and hospital discharge:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, the VCSE sector plays a critical role in discharge planning. The Minister may know of a project in Warrington, where a social prescribing link worker and the VCSE team are integrated into the discharge team, and are therefore able to support people on discharge. The pilot has been positive, not least in that it has reduced readmission into hospital. Could the Minister say what support the Government are giving to integrated care boards so that they can enable this type of innovative provision? Can she reassure us that the aspiration to cut the ICBs by 50% will not impact on that potential?

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Bishop of London asks about tackling causes of ill-health

The Bishop of London asked a question on the need to tackle root causes of ill health on 18th March 2025, following a government statement on welfare reform:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I welcome the Government’s focus on and increased investment in supporting people back into good work, and the proposed safeguards through the right to try guarantee. However, I am intrinsically wary of attempts to address the drivers of ill health through the social security system, rather than tackling root causes. We do not know yet the content of the NHS plan. Supporting people who are currently claiming incapacity benefits into work will put considerable pressure on an already stressed health system. What steps is the Minister’s department taking to work with the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that the right support is available for people with physical and mental health needs?

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Bishop of Manchester asks about sustainable farming and food security

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the effects of the government’s sustainable farming initiative on food security on 18th March 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I do not know whether I have an interest to declare. I am not a farmer but the Church Commissioners, who pay my stipend and working costs, are one of the largest landowners of tenanted farms in the UK, so I declare that.

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