Category: Questions

Oral & written questions in the Lords and Commons

Bishop of Southwark asks about rising costs of rent

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

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of figures released by the Office for National Statistics on 20 March showing an average increase in monthly rent paid by tenants in the UK of 9 per cent in the year ending in February, including an increase to 10.6 per cent in London to an average monthly rent of £2,035.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about risks associated with electric vehicles produced in China

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

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact upon national security of Chinese-made electric vehicles; and whether they plan to further investigate any risks that may arise.

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church Schools, Carbon Emissions, Land Use, Ceremonies, and Service Attendance

On 12th April 2024, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:

Church Schools: Hendon

Dr Matthew Offord MP (Con, Hendon): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether he has made an assessment of the contribution of church schools in Hendon constituency.

Andrew Selous MP (Con, South West Bedfordshire): Though the National Church Institutions are not responsible for the operation of individual schools, the Diocese of London has volunteered the following information, which I hope is useful.

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Bishop of Winchester asks about religious freedom in Myanmar

The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answers on 12th April 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the contribution made to aiding reconciliation by, and (2) the vulnerability of, religious groups in Myanmar.

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Bishop of Leicester asks about impact of the two-child limit for child benefit on poverty

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 27th March 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Markham on 11 March (HL Deb col 1802), and taking account of the latest Households Below Average Income data, which shows a 300,000 increase in the number of children living in absolute poverty in the past year, what assessment they have made of the impact on health and well-being of the two-child limit for child benefit; and what assessment they have made of the strengths and weaknesses of using the measure of absolute poverty rather than relative poverty.

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Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asks about accommodation for members of the armed forces

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich received the following written answer on 27th March 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asked His Majesty’s Government what consultation they undertook with service personnel and their families regarding the Modernised Accommodation Offer for the armed forces.

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Church Commissioners Written Questions: Clergy – Universal Credit

On 26th March 2024, Andrew Selous MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Rachael Maskell MP (Lab, York Central): To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Commissioners have had discussions with the Department of Work and Pensions on the potential impact of the migration of claimants of Child Tax Credit to Universal Credit on the financial position of members of the clergy.

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Bishop of Leeds asks about impact of UN Resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza on 26th March 2024, querying the potential impact of the resolution and whether it would affect countries such as Russia, China & Iran supplying weapons for the conflict:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, given that UN resolutions are not always seen through, as it were, or observed, is the Minister optimistic that this resolution will have the impact we want it to have? What impact will it have on countries like Russia, China and Iran continuing to supply weapons?

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Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asks about environmental land management and sustainable farming initiatives

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asked a question on ongoing assessment of environmental land management and sustainable farming schemes during a discussion on food security on 26th March 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich: My Lords, I indicate my interests as listed in the register and pay tribute to farmers. As the Minister has said, the priorities are food production and environmental quality, including rebuilding biodiversity, restoring clean air and water and prioritising the rebuilding of healthy soils. What ongoing assessment is being made of the current ELMS and SFI programmes to meet these aims?

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Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about limiting solar plants on agricultural land

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham received the following written answer on 26th March 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to limiting the size of solar plants in areas of best and most versatile agricultural land.

Lord Callanan (Con, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero): Planning policy and associated guidance set out that the effective use of land should be prioritised by directing large scale solar projects to locate on previously developed and non-greenfield land.

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