Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Manchester asks about net zero targets and biomass capture

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the impact of new oil projects on net zero targets, and a question on the viability of carbon capture and storage, on 12th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: Perhaps I might make it a bit wider, to avoid putting the Minister in a difficult situation. We have heard that there are a number of projects that have previously been approved to a certain stage and—at the risk of a pun—are in the pipeline. Have the Government made any estimate of the impact that schemes in this sort of pipeline will have on the UK being able to meet its net-zero targets?

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Bishop of Albans highlights concerns over rise in National Insurance

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on concern in the charity sector over rises in National Insurance on 12th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, there is great concern in the charitable sector about these increases. Can the Minister tell us whether His Majesty’s Government are monitoring the effect on the charitable sector?

Lord Livermore (Lab, Treasury): We of course monitor the effect of all our policies on all sectors of the economy. We have increased the amount of money going to charities, and we will stand by that increased investment.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about community relations

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to engage positively with Muslim communities, including the Muslim Council of Britain.

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Bishop of Leeds and Bishop of St Albans ask about conflict in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo

The Bishop of St Albans and the Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 12th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what assessment they have made of the recent occupation of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the rebel group M23.
  • what discussions they have had with the government of Rwanda regarding their support for the rebel group M23 and the possibility of the group’s withdrawal from Goma and other territories it has occupied.
  • what steps they have taken to facilitate dialogue and to explore options for a political settlement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked what assessment they have made of the M23 rebel group taking control of Goma; and whether they intend to call on Rwanda to withdraw support to the M23 rebels and withdraw from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Bishop of Winchester asks about aid to internally displaced populations in Nigeria

The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answer on 12th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester asked His Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to ensure that aid distributed to displaced people in Nigeria reaches those displaced by violence in central states committed by armed non-state actors.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about capital punishment in Iran

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they intend to make to the government of Iran concerning the execution sentences of Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani.

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Bishop of Chelmsford asks about immigration casework

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 12th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what is their timeline for the full implementation of the ATLAS caseworking system; and whether they expect it to be fully operational in 2025.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about local government for rural areas

On 11th February 2025, the Bishop of St Albans asked a question on ensuring fairness for rural communities during local government reorganisation:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, to build on that question, there is a lot of concern in rural areas that where they are to be added to a large unitary authority which is dominated by an urban area, they might miss out. What will be put into the criteria to ensure that there is fairness of services in those rural areas?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about role of beavers in restoring chalk streams

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 11th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the potential role of beavers in restoring England’s chalk streams.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about 4-day week productivity

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 11th February 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the productivity of businesses where employees work a permanent four-day working week.

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