Bishop of St Albans asks about renewable energy planning

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to simplify the planning process for renewables.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con): Our National Planning Policy Framework is clear that when determining planning applications for renewable and low carbon development, local planning authorities should approve the application if its impacts are (or can be made) acceptable.

In addition, powers in our Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will enable us to create a more consistent, streamlined and digitally enabled approach to planning applications. When utilised with existing powers, this will enable us to create an end-to-end system which is faster and more accessible to communities.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about the cost of living for armed forces personnel

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support armed forces personnel with the increased cost of living.

Baroness Goldie (Con): Defence recognises that nobody is immune from the recent rises in inflation and the cost of living. We are committed to doing what we can to assist Armed Forces personnel where possible, including implementing the independent Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body’s 2022 pay award recommendations in full, a pay uplift of 3.75%; capping subsidised accommodation charge increases to 1%; increasing travel allowances by 7%; no rise in food charges; over 32,000 Service Personnel have received a Contribution in Lieu of Council Tax rebate of £150; and families can save around £3,400 per child per year through our wraparound childcare.

Hansard

Bishop of Bristol asks about future oil and gas exploration in the North Sea

On 19th July 2023, the Bishop of Bristol asked a question on the alignment of company commitments to net-zero targets, and whether the government would factor this in before authorising expansion of North Sea oil and gas exploration:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, what assessment is the North Sea Transition Authority making of the alignment of company commitments, especially on net- zero targets covering scopes 1, 2 and 3, over the short, medium and long term as well as company alignment on capital expenditure towards those targets? Can the Minister assure us that, before licensing any expansion in North Sea exploration, the authority will factor this into consideration when judging projects under alignment with the UK’s net-zero legal commitment?

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Bishop of Durham asks about work requirements under universal credit

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government, further to book by Kate Andersen Welfare That Works for Women? Mothers’ Experiences of the Conditionality within Universal Credit, published in January, what steps they are taking to ensure that work-related requirements are appropriate to parents’ caring responsibilities.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about UK’s resilience against nuclear weapons

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the UK’s resilience against nuclear weapons.

Baroness Goldie (Con): The United Kingdom’s (UK) independent nuclear deterrent exists to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, which cannot be deterred by other means.

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Bishop of Coventry asks about prosecution of Rwandan war criminals in the UK

The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking (1) to identify the presence of alleged Rwandan war criminals in the UK, and (2) to prosecute those who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con): If a UK resident has been responsible for core international crimes anywhere in the world, they may be investigated and prosecuted in the UK.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about expanding Foods Standards Agency surveys

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of how much it would cost to expand the sample size for the Food Standards Agency’s Food and You 2 survey to a minimum of 10,000 households.

Lord Markham (Con): The Food Standards Agency (FSA) estimates that it would cost approximately an additional £400,000 per year to increase the sample size of the Food and You 2 survey from 4,000 households to 10,000.

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Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about supported housing hosts for children in care

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham received the following written answer on 19th July 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what steps they are taking to recruit more supported lodgings hosts to accommodate 16 and 17 year olds in care.
  • what support they are providing to local authorities (1) to establish new supported lodgings schemes, or (2) to expand existing schemes.

Baroness Barran (Con): The government believes that every child in the care system deserves to live in a high-quality setting that meets their needs and keeps them safe. That is why the department is investing over £140 million to introduce mandatory national standards and Ofsted registration and inspection requirements for providers of supported accommodation for 16 and 17 year old looked after children and care leavers, including supported lodgings. Ofsted began registering providers on 28 April 2023, and registration will become mandatory from 28 October 2023.

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Votes: Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill

On 18th July 2023, the House of Lords debated the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill in the Report stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:

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Bishop of Bristol asks about conflict in Darfur and support for refugee communities

On 18th July 2023, the Bishop of Bristol asked a question on ongoing conflict and violence in Darfur, and UK government support for Chad in caring for refugee communities fleeing the violence:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, as we have already heard from the noble Lord, Lord Alton, the situation in Darfur is dire, and I am grateful for this opportunity to be reminded of that. At least six towns and villages have been burned to the ground, alongside numerous cultural sites. We have heard a little about the effect on girls and women, and boys over fighting age are being shot. Understandably, many of the targeted Masalit ethnic group are fleeing to surrounding countries. We have heard about those going to South Sudan, but the vast majority are going to Chad. What steps will the Government take to provide Chad with support for the refugee crisis as a result?

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