Bishop of Oxford asks about combatting climate disinformation

On 13th December 2023, the Bishop of Oxford asked about the need to combat climate disinformation, particularly online, in light of recent developments at the COP28 conference:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, I assume the Minister will be aware of the large amount of lobbying taking place, not only at the COP but around the COP through social media. One oil company is estimated to have spent $1.8 million on TikTok videos alone, seen by millions of people across the world, and helping to spread climate disinformation. Does the Minister think the Government should be doing more through the Counter-Disinformation Unit to challenge climate disinformation, given the scale of what is happening and the risk to the world of the failure to curb emissions?

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Bishop of Gloucester asks for assurances on curbing risk of refugee homelessness

During a debate on refugee homelessness on 13th December 2023, the Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on the impact of an inadequate notice period to leave home office accommodation on refugees, and requested an assurance that no notices to vacate would be implemented when severe and emergency weather warnings were in place:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, given what has already been said about the inadequate notice period, can the Minister give an assurance that no notice to vacate will be implemented when a severe weather emergency protocol has been announced?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about underage and illegal workers in delivery services

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 13th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Offord of Garvel on 28 November (HL427), whether they have assessed how many (1) underage children, and (2) illegal workers, have been working as delivery riders; and if so, how many of each there were in (a) 2021, and (b) 2022.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con, Home Office): The Home Office does not hold this information.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about promotion of broadband social tariffs for the elderly

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 13th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase their promotion of social tariffs in areas of deprivation in the light of the finding that many older people are unaware of social tariffs, particularly in the broadband sector, in the report A constant struggle: The impact of high household costs on older people facing financial hardship, published by Independent Age in September.

Viscount Camrose (Con, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology): The Government has worked closely with internet service providers to ensure provision of social tariffs for those on Universal Credit and other means tested benefits – including Pension Credit.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about plans to encourage payment of living wages for UK employees

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 13th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage employers to pay their employees a real living wage in light of the finding in the report, UK Poverty 2023, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on 26 January, that 11 per cent of all destitute respondents are in paid work.

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Bishop of Durham asks about cultural value of the BBC

The Bishop of Durham asked a question on the cultural value brought to the UK by the BBC on 12th December 2023, following a government statement on the BBC licence fee:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: Will the review look at what the BBC generates for the nation, as well as what goes in? Arguably, it generates far more money than the £3.8 billion, but this cannot be reduced to just an economic debate. Will what the BBC generates in good will around the world and our standing as a nation, because of what it does, be taken into consideration?

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Bishop of Durham asks about role of faith leaders in Israel & Gaza

On 12th December 2023, the Bishop of Durham asked a question on the involvement of faith leaders in diplomatic conversations on the situation in Israel & Gaza:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, this tragic situation is also caught up in the complexity of the religious faiths of the region. In what way are faith leaders involved in the diplomatic conversations to seek to bring peace?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about train manufacturing and refurbishment in the UK

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on contracts for train manufacture and refurbishment in the UK on 12th December 2023, following a government statement on the potential closure of the Alstom manufacture site in Derby:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, last week in the other place the Department for Transport said that the contract tenders for refurbishing existing trains would be brought forward very soon. Time is short for Alstom, the only end-to-end manufacturing facility in the UK. Can the Minister give any assurances about how soon these contracts will be brought forward, because the days are now being counted down?

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Bishop of Durham asks about potential for community sponsorship scheme for Afghan refugees

The Bishop of Durham asked a question on the potential for community sponsorship, similar to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, to allow Afghan refugees to come to the UK on 12th December 2023, during a discussion on the threat of deportation faced by former Afghan special forces soldiers currently in Pakistan:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I declare my interest as a trustee of Reset, as laid out in the register. The British population have a lot of sympathy with these Afghans. What work has been done to learn the lessons from Ukraine and see what levels of community sponsorship might be offered to such Afghans who qualify under these schemes, and to welcome them here? I recognise that this is a Home Office question, so I understand if the Minister needs to write.

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Bishop of London asks about risks to the social care sector under new immigration rules

The Bishop of London asked a question on the impact of losing overseas health & care workers under the government’s new immigration restrictions on 12th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, we are very familiar with the pressure on the social care workforce. As the Minister pointed out, we have seen vacancies fall within the social care sector, which is very welcome, but that is supported by the recruitment of 70,000 staff from overseas. I am glad that the health and care sector is exempt from the new visa charges, because we are clearly reliant on assistance from overseas. However, given that they are no longer able to bring dependents on their visa, have the Government considered the impact that this will have on recruiting workers from overseas into the social care sector?

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