Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans asks about use of soft power in the media

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on the use of soft power via media outlets such as the BBC on 14th November 2024, during a discussion on the effectiveness of the BBC World Service:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, there is a tension here between having an independent BBC, which we are all grateful for—indeed, that is part of its integrity—and it being part of our strategic soft power. Could the noble Baroness tell us a little bit more about the strategic approach His Majesty’s Government are taking to thinking about the key places we need to engage with, not least in countering the deliberate disinformation coming from China and Russia, which is fundamental to the future of our democracies?

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about impact of early release programme

The Bishop of Gloucester tabled a question on the impact of the prisoner early release programme on probation services on 14th November 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the prisoner early release scheme on probation services.

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Bishop of Manchester asks about control of local railways

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on local control of passenger railway services on 13th November 2024, following a government statement on railway transport:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I am grateful for what we have just heard. As somebody who frequently travels between Manchester and London Euston, I know that, at Manchester, I can often get on the train 20 minutes before it is due to leave and settle down, but at Euston it is a mad dash. It has still been like that, even in recent weeks. I want to focus on more local rail services. When I last spoke in this House on that subject, I asked the Minister whether there was any progress on allowing Greater Manchester—which now has control of the buses and the metro system—to take control of local rail as well. Integrating the transport system in a major city, as happens in London, is absolutely crucial. I can get to Manchester and then it takes me an hour to get home, out of the city, even though it is only two miles away. Is the Minister able to give us a progress report on that?

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Bishop of Manchester asks about self determination for territories annexed by Indonesia

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the future of self determination for West Papua and other nearby territories on 13th November 2o24, during a discussion of the Indonesian Government’s actions in West Papua:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, do His Majesty’s Government agree with the Pacific Conference of Churches that the future for West Papua, alongside Mā’ohi Nui, or French Polynesia, and Kanaky, or New Caledonia, lies in self-determination? If so, what conversations have His Majesty’s Government had with the Indonesian Government to put the case that they should give freedom to those territories they have invaded and annexed?

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Bishop of Sheffield asks about transport infrastructure in the north of England

On 12th November 2024, the Bishop of Sheffield tabled a question on support for transport infrastructure across cities in the north of England:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: To ask His Majesty’s Government, following the announcement that Doncaster Sheffield Airport may reopen in 2026, what steps they are taking to support transport infrastructure across cities in the north of England.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about steps to protect the information of migrant victims of domestic violence

The Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on the establishment of a firewall between police and immigration enforcement to protect the information of migrant victims of domestic violence on 12th November 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, data obtained by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner in 2023 revealed that all 43 police forces across England and Wales had shared information about victims and survivors of domestic abuse with immigration enforcement. Do the Government intend to tackle this practice by introducing a firewall?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about referrals to NHS Gambling clinics

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th November 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesties Government how many referrals were made to NHS gambling clinics in (1) 2022, (2) 2023, and (3) 2024.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about statutory right to use and access cash

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th November 2024:

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

  • what steps they are taking to support people who rely solely on cash (1) to access cash, and (2) to access digital banking alternatives to cash.
  • whether they intend to introduce a statutory right to pay for goods and services in cash; and if so, whether this would be subject to financial limits.
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Bishop of St Albans asks about calls to refer events in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 11th November 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of calls by Amnesty International on 24 October for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling related fines and mental health treatment

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 11th November 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government how many fines were imposed on gambling companies by the Gambling Commission for failing to meet their social responsibility obligations in (1) 2018, (2) 2019, (3) 2020, (4) 2021, (5) 2022, and (6) 2023.

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