Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of St Albans asks about possible surge in cases of prostate cancer

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 19th April 2024:

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

  • further to recent research conducted by the Lancet Commission, what steps they plan to take to address the projected surge in prostate cancer cases.
  • what plans they have to expand public awareness campaigns for prostate cancer, following the prediction by the Lancet Commission of a surge in cases.
  • what assessment they have made of the Lancet Commission on prostate cancer, published 4 April 2024.
  • what plans they have to use artificial intelligence systems to support the diagnosis of prostate cancer, as recommended by the Lancet Commission in research published on 4 April.
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Bishop of Leeds tables question on ceasefire in Sudan

The Bishop of Leeds tabled a question on UK efforts to support an immediate ceasefire in Sudan on 18th April 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, as penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council, to support an immediate ceasefire in Sudan to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and regional destabilisation.

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Church Commissioners Questions: Easter Church Services, Families & Households, Abortion Legislation, Armenian Church in Jerusalem, Sale of Land, and Church Schools

On 18th April 2024, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following answers to MPs in the House of Commons:

Easter Church Services

Kevin Foster (Con, Torbay): To ask the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent assessment the Church has made of trends in the number of families that attend a church service over the Easter period.

Andrew Selous MP (Con, South West Bedfordshire): Although we do not yet have confirmed numbers of worshippers for this Easter just gone, our clergy report high attendance, among all ages, at services, which supports the post-pandemic trend of people returning to services on Easter day in person to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about variation of the prevalence of prostate cancer among different ethnic groups

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 17th April 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to prioritise research into variation of the prevalence of prostate cancer among different ethnic groups.

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Bishop of Winchester asks about freedom of religion and belief in India

On 16th April 2024, the Bishop of Winchester tabled a question to the Foreign Secretary on the current state of freedom of religion and belief in India:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs what assessment he has made of the current state of freedom of religion or belief in India.

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Con, Foreign Secretary): My Lords, India is a multifaith, multiethnic democracy and remains among the most religiously diverse societies in the world. It is home to 966 million Hindus, 172 million Muslims, 28 million Christians, 20 million Sikhs, 8 million Buddhists and 4.5 million Jains. India is committed via its constitution to freedom of religion and belief. Where specific issues or concerns arise, the UK Government of course raise these directly with the Government of India.

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about food security in the event of flooding or extreme weather

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question on government plans to ensure food security in the event of extreme weather events and flooding affecting supply lines on 16th April 2024, during a discussion on compensation for farmers affected by flooding:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: Climate change and global events have exposed the vulnerability of relying on imported foods. Given the extreme weather events and flooding, the likelihood that this will continue and the impact on farming, what plans do the Government have in place to ensure food security?

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Bishop of Leeds asks about pandemic preparedness

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on whether the government has established a communications plan in the event of another pandemic, during a discussion on pandemic preparedness on 15th April 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, do the Government have a pre-prepared communications plan for the eventuality of another pandemic—which could be next week, next year or whatever—so that it is not made up on the hoof? We remember that, in 2016, there was a big exercise in London which was forgotten about when we got to the actual pandemic. Are those provisions being put in now and preparations being made?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about mental health of young people in the UK

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 15th April 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network World Happiness Report, published on 20 March; in particular, the finding that the happiness of young people under the age of 30 in the UK has declined.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of the agricultural transition on food production and farm business viability

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 15th April 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they will undertake an assessment of the impact of the agricultural transition on food production and farm business viability.

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Bishop of Southwark asks about use of weapons manufactured in the UK in Israel-Gaza conflict

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 15th April 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked what steps they are taking to ensure that weapons manufactured in the UK and sold under export licences are not being used to commit or facilitate violations of international human law in Gaza and in contravention of the Arms Trade Treaty ratified by the UK on 2 April 2014.

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