Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Newcastle asks about effects of loneliness on food bank usage, and financial viability of apprenticeships for young people

The Bishop of Newcastle receive the following written answers on 6th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address loneliness and social isolation as a root cause of foodbank usage following a recent report published by the Centre for Social Justice which found that over twice as many people who use foodbanks feel lonely most of the time compared to other adults.

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Bishop of Winchester asks about persecution of Christians in Nigeria

The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to provide aid to Christian communities in Nigeria facing persecution and violence.

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Bishop of Lincoln asks about impact of the two-child limit on child poverty levels

The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the two-child limit on child poverty levels since it was introduced in 2017; and what steps the Child Poverty Taskforce is taking to address this impact.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about services for children with special educational needs

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:

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

  • what assessment they have made of the safety valve agreement, and of its impact in the local authorities where such agreements have been made.
  • what assessment they have made of the impact on the most vulnerable pupils with special educational needs in local authorities where a safety valve agreement has been made; and how they propose to minimise this impact.
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Bishop of St Albans asks about air pollution and mental health

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of research led by Dr Mary Abed Al Ahad of the University of St Andrews showing that people exposed to high levels of pollution are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and psychosis; and whether they plan to reduce pollution in cities as a result.

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Bishop of Winchester asks abut freedom of religion in Syria

The Bishop of Winchester asked a question on Freedom of Religion and Belief in Syria on 19th December 2024, following a government statement on the recent regime change in the country:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: I am very grateful to the Minister for repeating the Statement. I particularly welcome what he said about the appointment of a Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and what he said about north-east Syria. Forgive me for returning to that subject, given the reassurances he has given, but the semi-autonomous region of north-east Syria is an oasis of plurality in the region, where freedom of religion or belief is respected and women take a leading role in governance. It provides an exemplar for the whole region, yet it is under significant pressure from repressive forces supported by our NATO ally, Turkey. I believe that this is an asymmetric aggression, so can the Minister please assure the House that the UK will continue, along with other NATO allies, to bring pressure to bear on Turkey to desist from its destabilising activities in the region?

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Bishop of Guildford tables question on homeschooling regulations

On 19th December 2024, the Bishop of Guildford tabled a question on government efforts to regulate homeschooling following the murder of Sara Sharif:

The Lord Bishop of Guildford: To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the rules on home schooling in the light of the murder of Sara Sharif.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about safety concerns regarding scooters and e-bikes

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on safety concerns relating to scooters and e-bikes on 19th December 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, with reports of deaths on the pavements from e-bikes and e-scooters, there is a lot of worry about safety, particularly for those who are disabled or partially sighted. Can the Minister assure us that, when the consultations go ahead, charities working with people in such situations will be consulted, so that we can make sure we are offering them the maximum protection on our pavements and streets?

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Bishop of Derby asks about bullying in schools

The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 19th December 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the success of Anti-Bullying Week 2024, and what initiatives they have in place to eradicate bullying.

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Bishop of Lincoln asks about measures to end child poverty

The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 19th December 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Lincoln asked His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take forward plans to introduce a children’s wellbeing bill as mentioned in the King’s Speech; and if so, what steps they are taking to include measures to end child poverty in a given timeframe.

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