Bishop of St Albans asks about the BBC World Service in the Arab States

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 10th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the strategic importance of the BBC World Service during the Arab Spring protests.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The FCDO strongly values the BBC World Service’s role in bringing high quality and impartial broadcasting to global audiences, particularly where free speech is limited. The Integrated Review stated that the BBC’s foreign language services are part of what makes the UK a soft power superpower.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about the BBC World Service in the Arab States”

Bishop of Chelmsford asks about debt management process for universal credit recipients

The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a question on reform to debt management for universal credit recipients during a debate on food banks and the rise in poverty on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, given the data published by the Trussell Trust in December which revealed that 57% of people referred to food banks who are in receipt of universal credit face government deductions from their or their partner’s benefits income, could the Minister outline what steps the Government will take to reform the debt management process for universal credit?

Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about debt management process for universal credit recipients”

Bishop of St Albans asks about undocumented migrants

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, following the Prime Minister’s statement on illegal migration on 13 December, whether they will respond to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ appeal to the UK to uphold its legal obligations.

Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con): I can assure the Honourable Bishop that the statement is under consideration and any response deemed necessary will be made by the Government in due course.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about undocumented migrants”

Bishop of St Albans asks about school milk programmes

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of children under five years old who benefit from the provision of free school milk; and what plans they have to expand that provision.

Lord Markham (Con): Approximately 810,587 children received a portion of milk through the Nursery Milk Scheme every school day during 2021/22. There are no plans to expand the provision.

Hansard

Bishop of Durham asks about funded early years childcare for families with no recourse to public funds

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty’s Government how many children subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF) conditions in receipt of 15 hours a week of free early education are British citizens.

Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about funded early years childcare for families with no recourse to public funds”

Bishop of St Albans asks about school breakfast programmes

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 9th January 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to expand the National School Breakfast Programme.

Baroness Barran (Con): The government is committed to continuing support for school breakfasts and has extended the National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) for an additional year in November. We are investing up to £30 million in our national school breakfast programme until the end of the summer term in 2024. This funding will support up to 2,500 schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that thousands of children from low-income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment and wellbeing.

Hansard

Bishop of Coventry asks about former president imprisoned in Georgia

The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answer on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Georgia, if any, for the release from prison on health grounds of Mikheil Saakashvili, the former president of that country.

Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about former president imprisoned in Georgia”

Bishop of Gloucester asks about refugee and migrant victims of domestic abuse

The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what support is available for those on a student or visitor visa who become subject to domestic abuse whilst residing in England.
  • what plans they have, if any, (1) to extend the destitution domestic violence concession (DDVC) to six months, and (2) to widen the eligibility to all migrant survivors of domestic abuse.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con): Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for this Government. Information on support for victims can be found on the Domestic abuse: how to get help(opens in a new tab) page on GOV.UK, or through Government’s ‘Enough’ campaign.

Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about refugee and migrant victims of domestic abuse”

Bishop of St Albans asks about screenings for malnutrition

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government why screening of malnutrition is not standard practice in all health settings across England.

Lord Markham (Con): The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that all hospital inpatients on admission and all outpatients at their first clinic appointment should be screened for malnutrition. Screening should be repeated weekly for inpatients and when there is clinical concern for outpatients. Residents in care homes should be screened on admission and when there is clinical concern.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about education on gambling

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what plans they have to review the statutory guidance Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education to provide further clarification on what pupils should know about online gambling.
  • what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the statutory guidance Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education in preventing harmful gambling by school pupils.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about education on gambling”