Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Sheffield asks about tackling regional inequalities in education

The Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on government plans to tackle regional inequalities in education outcomes on 17th October 2024, during a discussion on equality of opportunity in the education sector:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, according to data published by the Education Policy Institute, disadvantaged learners in Yorkshire and the Humber are typically 21.4 months behind their more advantaged learners by the end of secondary school. This is opposed to a disadvantage gap of half that size, at just 10.4 months, in London. What steps will the Government take to reduce such perniciously stubborn regional inequalities in educational outcomes?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of removing VAT on defibrillators

On 17th October 2024, the Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact that removing VAT on defibrillators would have on the national rollout effort.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about provision of healthcare supplies into Gaza

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on ensuring provision of supplies to Gaza’s al-Ahli Hospital on 16th October 2024, following a government statement on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, just over a year ago I was in Gaza, three days before Hamas’s evil attacks, visiting the Anglican-run al-Ahli hospital. Today that hospital is the only functioning hospital in northern Gaza, but it is weeks since it has been supplied. What are His Majesty’s Government doing to ensure that healthcare supplies are getting into Gaza and in particular that al-Ahli hospital, which is doing the incredible work of healing, is supplied?

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Bishop of Sheffield asks about risks of changes to marriage celebrant legislation

On 16th October 2024, the Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on the potential risks of changes to laws around marriage celebrants undermining the solemn nature of marriage:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, on these Benches we would welcome humanist wedding ceremonies being given legal status, but the recommendations of the Law Commission go beyond that and would create a free market celebrant-based approach to the wedding industry. I gather that Humanists UK shares our concern that such a move could undermine the solemn nature of marriage, which is never a trivial transaction. Given this unlikely alliance between the Lords spiritual and Humanists UK, can the Minister confirm that the Government will not enact the recommendations of the Law Commission without considering carefully the impact of a further commercialisation of weddings?

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Bishop of Norwich asks about support for low income households

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 16th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked  His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of introducing a minimum floor for Universal Credit so that benefit deductions and the benefit cap do not push people into financial hardship.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about improving survival rates for cardiac arrests

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 16th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve survival rates for those who have out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about rough sleeping

The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answer on 16th October 2024:

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

  • what assessment they have made of the impact of not extending Rough Sleeping Initiative funding past the end of the current financial year on the provision of services to people experiencing rough sleeping.
  • what plans they have to extend Rough Sleeping Initiative funding past the end of the current financial year.
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Bishop of St Albans asks about tackling religious hate-crime

On 15th October 2024, the Bishop of St Albans tabled a question on the rise in religious hate-crimes:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to reports that religious hate crime has increased, what steps they are taking to tackle religious hate crime and strengthen community cohesion in the UK.

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Bishop of Guildford asks about tax relief for choirs

The Bishop of Guildford asked a question on the potential of offering tax relief for choir groups on 15th October 2024, during a discussion on the future of tax relief for the arts:

The Lord Bishop of Guildford: My Lords, the current relief offered to instrumental groups of 12 or more players does not extend to choirs, a situation that is logically indefensible, especially given the growing popularity of choirs across the nation. Can the Minister say whether the Government have formed a view on extending the relief to choirs, as requested by musical organisations all around the country, not least given the recent questions over the future of the BBC Singers?

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Bishop of Leeds asks about steps to increase infant and child vaccination in the North of England

The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 15th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to increase infant and child vaccination levels in the north of England.

Baroness Merron (Lab, DHSC): In England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with NHS England, the Department and wider health system partners to improve uptake of the routine childhood immunisations and catch-up children who missed out.

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