Bishop of Gloucester pays tribute to the late Lord Judge

On 9th November 2023, the Bishop of Gloucester took part in tributes to the late Lord Ivor Judge, who had recently passed away:

My Lords, these Benches echo all that has been said so movingly about this remarkable and learned man, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Judge. As has been expressed, I and others felt a deep sadness on hearing the news of his death.

On behalf of these Benches, I have stood and given tributes on a number of occasions and, each time, very poignantly for me, I followed Lord Judge. He was wise, kind, humble, gracious and, as has been said, he always had a twinkle in his eye. His life was one of devoted public service to the greater good, be it in the law or the courts, as President of the Queen’s Bench Division and later as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, or as a Member of this House. He was a source of wisdom to me personally in my role as Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons. He would always greet me in the corridors with Shakespearean references to Gloucester. I will personally miss him.

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Kings Speech Debate: Archbishop of York speaks on devolution in the North of England

The Archbishop of York spoke on devolution, with a particular focus on the North of England on 8th November 2023, in a debate following the Kings Speech:

The Lord Archbishop of York: My Lords, from these Benches I too express our sadness at the news of the death of Lord Judge and offer prayers and condolences to his family. I look forward with others to the speeches of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Burnett of Maldon, and the noble and learned Lords, Lord Houchen of High Leven and Lord Bailey of Paddington.

The focus of my speech is devolution, looking particularly at devolution in and within the regions of England, not least because devolution and devolved government allow us to seek consensus in our decision-making, and therefore to be better able to take a longer view, which in turn is the best way of tackling some of the huge issues facing us that were mentioned in the gracious Speech: the greening of the economy; poverty; and criminal justice. Yesterday, the order was laid by the Government for the establishment of the mayoral combined authority for York and North Yorkshire, the area where I live and serve. This is very good news for the north and is the first deal of its kind that includes a large rural area in combination with a small city, and therefore is an opportunity for a new model that does not require a big city for its success.

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Bishop of Oxford asks about effects of redundancies at British Steel plant in Scunthorpe

The Bishop of Oxford asked a question on support for those affected by redundancies at the Scunthorpe plant of British Steel on 8th November 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, many of us around this House will have experience of what happens in communities when these devastating redundancies happen. I was Bishop of Sheffield in South Yorkshire for many years and saw the effects at first hand. Can the Minister say more about the Government’s plans to invest in the area to help those affected transition through? In particular, what industries and areas of employment does he see as appropriate to the Scunthorpe area, given all the technological and industrial changes that we are seeing?

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Bishop of London asks about mental health impact of the cost of living crisis

The Bishop of London asked a question on the impact the of cost of living crisis on people’s mental health on 26th October 2023:

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, as we have heard, our financial situation has a serious impact on our health and mental well-being. This is supported by recent polling commissioned by Christians Against Poverty. This issue is not just about more disease; it also includes malnutrition, mental health and failing to take time off when sick due to financial insecurity. What assessment have the Government made of the impact of the cost of living crisis on people’s mental health, particularly in our most deprived and vulnerable communities? What steps are the Government taking to reduce health inequalities, specifically those related to suicide?

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Bishop of Norwich introduced

On 26th October 2023, the Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham Usher, was introduced to the House of Lords and took his seat on the Bishops Benches as a Lord Spiritual.

The Bishop of Southwark, the Bishop of Norwich, and the Bishop of London

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Bishop of Newcastle introduced

On 26th October 2023, the Bishop of Newcastle, Rt Revd Helen-Ann Hartley, was introduced to the House of Lords and took her seat on the Bishops Benches as a Lord Spiritual.

The Bishop of Derby, the Bishop of Newcastle, and the Bishop of London
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Bishop of Leicester asks about school attendance

The Bishop of Leicester received the following written answer on 26th October 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Leicester asked His Majesty’s Government what the school attendance rates are in (1) Leicester, (2) Leicestershire, and (3) nationally, broken down in each case by (a) primary, (b) secondary, and (c) special schools; and how these rates have changed since 2019.

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Bishop of Sheffield asks about staff employed under “umbrella companies”

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answer on 26th October 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the growth of umbrella companies, and (2) the ability of the staff of those companies, to demonstrate continuous service and accrue employee benefits and employment rights.

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Bishop of Chelmsford asks about Homes for Ukraine scheme

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 26th October 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the National Audit Office’s report Investigation into the Homes for Ukraine scheme, published on 17 October, what steps they are taking to improve and expand data on homelessness among Ukrainian refugees who have been part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, given that local authority data returns on scheme homelessness are voluntary.

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Bishop of Durham asks about efforts to encourage volunteering opportunities

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 26th October 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government what encouragement they are providing to businesses to promote and encourage volunteering amongst employees.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con): His Majesty’s Government recognises how vital volunteering is for society, reaping benefits for those who volunteer as well as the organisations they assist. The Government aims to remove barriers which prevent people from getting involved.

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