On 12th September 2023, the House of Lords debated Commons Reasons and Amendments to the Energy Bill. Votes were held on motions relating to amendments, in which bishops took part:
Votes: Energy Bill
Bishop of Gloucester asks about affordable housing
The Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on ensuring affordable housing for local communities on 12th September 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that answer about affordability, but I wonder what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the definition of affordability is a good one. Could we redefine it so that it means affordable for most local people in that community, and look at what that is doing to house prices generally in each area?
Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about affordable housing”Bishop of Manchester asks about reduction of African countries’ debts
The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answer on 12th September 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by African Faith Leaders on 8 August calling for a reduction of debt across African countries.
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about reduction of African countries’ debts”Votes: Procurement Bill
On 11th September 2023, the House of Lords debated Commons amendments and reasons to the Procurement Bill. Votes were hold on motions relating to amendments, in which a Bishop took part:
Votes: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill
On 11th September 2023, the House of Lords debated Commons amendments and reasons to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill. Votes were held on motions relating to Commons amendments, in which a Bishop took part:
Bishop of Leeds asks about effects of sanctions on Russia
On 11th September 2023, Bishop of Leeds tabled a question on the effectiveness of sanctions placed upon Russia following their invasion of Ukraine:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of sanctions against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con, Foreign Office): My Lords, sanctions by the United Kingdom and its international partners have starved Russia of key western goods and technology, degrading Russia’s military and restricting its capacity to fight a 21st-century war. UK exports of machinery and transport equipment have decreased by 98%. Sanctions also limit Russia’s financial resources. The UK has sanctioned 29 Russian banks, accounting for over 90% of the Russian banking sector. We have also frozen over £18 billion-worth of Russian assets in the UK. Without sanctions, we estimate that Russia would have over $400 billion more to fund its war machine.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about effects of sanctions on Russia”Bishop of St Albans asks about cases of whistleblowing in NHS Hospitals
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 11th September 2023:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government how many cases of whistleblowing occurred in NHS hospitals in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, and (4) 2022.
Lord Markham (Con, Department of Health & Social Care): The information requested is not collected or held centrally.
Bishop of St Albans urges government to work to provide financial and citizenship education in schools
The Bishop of St Albans spoke in a debate on life skills and citizenship teaching in primary and secondary schools on 7th September 2023, urging the government to work with organisations to provide financial education in schools, and drawing attention to the Church of England’s Living Well Together project:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, the diocese which I am privileged to serve has 138 church schools in it and another group of independent schools with Christian foundations. I am glad to have the opportunity to visit them regularly—I have been in one already this morning. As I go round, I am heartened by the teaching I see already going on on citizenship and value-based education. I want to comment, though, on just a couple of things and to suggest that, while it is important that the Government are clear what they are doing, there is actually a vital role for families and a vital role in collaborating with other bodies that are seeking to do similar sort of work.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans urges government to work to provide financial and citizenship education in schools”Bishop of Exeter asks about international efforts to combat food insecurity in conflict areas
The Bishop of Exeter asked a question on government efforts to work internationally to combat food insecurity in areas of conflict on 7th September 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Exeter: My Lords, as the president of the International Rescue Committee rightly noted, conflict is one of the primary drivers of food insecurity around the globe, so what steps are His Majesty’s Government taking, in co-operation with our partners, to convene dialogue and work with local peacebuilders and faith leaders to help in areas of conflict?
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con, Foreign Office): We are working in many areas, including an area in which I lead on the initiative of preventing sexual violence in conflict.
Continue reading “Bishop of Exeter asks about international efforts to combat food insecurity in conflict areas”Bishop of St Albans asks about use of drug Vorasidenib to treat brain tumours
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 7th September 2023:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of Vorasidenib for the treatment of brain tumours.
Lord Markham (Con, Department of Health & Social Care): In the United Kingdom, medicines need to have a licence before they can be marketed, and these are granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA has not issued a scientific opinion for Vorasidenib. Should an application for Vorasidenib be received, the MHRA will consider this accordingly.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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