Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th March 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Gower on 14 February (HL2349), in what form the information on vessel transponders is collected; and where is it published.
Lord Douglas Miller (Con, DfT): The Government does not routinely collect information on vessel transponders.
The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham received the following written answer on 12th March 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of dredging rivers and waterways while balancing environmental and habitat considerations; and, in particular, what assessment they have made of how effective this would be for the River Trent.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about effectives of dredging rivers and waterways”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th March 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 13 February (HL2098), when the consultation on the Uber Britannia Ltd v Sefton MBC High Court ruling will be published.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about taxation of taxi and rideshare companies”The Bishop of Leicester asked a question on the impact of the two-child limit on families receiving child benefit payments on 11th March 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, there is strong evidence that in the early 2000s increases in child benefits led to an increase in the amount parents spent on fruit and vegetables and books and toys for their children. What assessment have the Government made of the impact of the two-child limit on benefits and, in particular, on the health and well-being of the 1.5 million children affected?
Continue reading “Bishop of Leicester asks about impact of the two-child benefit limit”The Bishop of Norwich made a speech during a debate on regeneration of industrial areas on 7th March 2024, calling for greater investment in and engagement with communities to help drive local regeneration:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, the place that shaped me most as a priest in the Church of England was the parish of Holy Trinity North Ormesby in Middlesbrough at the turn of the millennium, so it was a simple delight and joy to hear the noble Baroness, Lady Chapman, speak about so many places that I know, from South Bank to Maske.
North Ormesby is set among derelict land, chemical plants and the distant smoke, sound and smell of the coke and steel furnaces. It is a place that taught me so much about resilience and survival, as well as about the strength of community, even when the stuffing had been knocked out of it. The people there taught me about acceptance and that each day was filled with little blessings. But I also learned about poverty and the impact of damp houses, as well as about health inequalities that meant that, if you lived six miles away, on average you lived another decade.
In all the indices, that community still comes out as being among the poorest, most ill, most unemployed and most unskilled, as well as having the lowest educational attainment and the worst air quality of wards in this nation. But the people I lived alongside in that community have warm and large hearts, despite the challenging context. The church was at the centre of its long-term regeneration, successfully building the Trinity Centre—a place for support, learning, faith and fun, it said. It was funded by the single regeneration budget and the neighbourhood renewal fund, but also, crucially, by many small grant-making trusts—and a local couple who one day knocked on the vicarage door with £1,000 of their savings because they believed in what we were doing. We gave confidence to the local authority and a housing association to invest in that community when others simply walked away.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich takes part in debate on industrial regeneration in urban areas”The Archbishop of York asked a question on what steps the government are taking to improve access to outdoor and green spaces, particularly for disadvantaged communities, on 7th March 2024:
The Lord Archbishop of York: My Lords, during Covid, we all became aware of how important it is to have access to outside space. Yet we know that many people do not have access to outside space, let alone green space, and we know the health benefits of having that space, particularly for mental health. In my work, I often visit communities, particularly in Hull and Middlesbrough, where so many people simply do not have this kind of access, and I see the consequences. I am wondering what steps the Government are taking to try to improve the situation. It is estimated that 10 million people in this country may not have ready access to green space. What steps are being taken to address this?
Continue reading “Archbishop of York asks about access to green spaces”The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the size of the social housing decarbonisation fund and what extra support the government would be giving to housing associations if the fund were to fall short, during a discussion on heat pump installation policy on 6th March 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, the Minister kindly referred to the social housing decarbonisation fund, but there are something like 2.7 million homes owned by the social housing sector, with a projected cost of £36 billion to decarbonise them. Does he recognise that the fund is far too small to deliver that, and if so, what extra support will be made available to housing associations for them to achieve this for their poorer tenants?
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about support for decarbonisation of social housing”The Bishop of Manchester tabled a question on the case for reforming police recruitment on 5th March 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: To ask His Majesty’s Government, following the first report of the Angiolini Inquiry published on 29 February, what assessment they have made of the case for reforming police recruitment.
In begging leave to ask the Question in my name on the Order Paper, I declare my interest as co-chair of the national police ethics committee.
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con, Home Office): My Lords, the horrific crimes committed by a then serving police officer shocked the nation and undermined public confidence in the police. My thoughts are with the family and friends of Sarah Everard; I cannot imagine how painful this must be for them. In the years since, the Home Office has worked closely with policing partners to strengthen the way that police officers are recruited, vetted, scrutinised and disciplined. The Government will continue to work with policing partners to consider the findings and recommendations of this report at pace, and will respond fully in due course.
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about reforming police recruitment”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 5th March 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent increase in piracy off the Horn of Africa.
Lord Benyon (Con, Foreign Office): While the causes of recent maritime incidents in the Horn of Africa are unclear, the UK continues to monitor the situation in the region closely.
Continue reading “Bishop of Albans asks about increase in piracy off the Horn of Africa”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 5th March 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of recent Human Rights Watch research that suggests several major carmakers could be complicit in abuse of China’s Uyghur Muslims.
Lord Johnson of Lainston (Con, DfT): Modern slavery is a barbaric crime which we are determined to stamp out. In 2022, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published its assessment of the human rights situation in Xinjiang, which found that China had carried out “serious human rights violations” against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim minorities.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about forced labour in China”
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