On 11th June, the House of Lords debated the Holocaust Memorial Bill. Votes were held on an amendment to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:
Votes: Holocaust Memorial Bill
Holocaust Memorial Bill: Bishop of Southwark supports amendment on building of learning centre
On 11th June 2025, the Bishop of Southwark spoke in support of an amendment to the Holocaust Memorial Bill tabled by Lord Russell of Liverpool, which would stipulate that: “No Learning Centre should be constructed underground in order that a Learning Centre be constructed of adequate size in line with the recommendation of the 2015 Prime Minister’s Holocaust Commission Report and in order to avoid detriment to Victoria Tower Gardens.”
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I support Amendment 2 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Russell of Liverpool, as it encapsulates my concern. I intend to speak briefly. During the debate on ping-pong on the data Bill on 2 June, the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, referred to some pre-ministerial training administered in the days before he and colleagues entered government, which included a former senior civil servant saying:
“Whatever happens, it is never too late to avoid making a bad decision”.—[Official Report, 2/6/25; col. 498.]
Continue reading “Holocaust Memorial Bill: Bishop of Southwark supports amendment on building of learning centre”Votes: Armed Forces Commissioner Bill
On 11th June 2025, the House of Lords debated the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill. Votes were held on an amendment to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:
Church Commissioners Written Questions: Human Trafficking & Slavery, Additional Curates Society – Finance, Church of England – Land
On 11th June 2025, Marsha De Cordova MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:
Human Trafficking and Slavery
Jim Shannon MP (DUP, Strangford): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the steps the Church is taking to help tackle (a) modern slavery and (b) human trafficking.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Questions: Human Trafficking & Slavery, Additional Curates Society – Finance, Church of England – Land”Bishop of Southwark asks about impact of future benefit cuts on the vulnerable and disabled
The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the restoration of winter fuel payments to the elderly on 10th June 2025, asking the government to confirm they would not introduce further cuts impacting vulnerable or disabled people:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I welcome the reversal of the decision on winter fuel payments, having spoken, like others, cautioning against so many pensioners who are vulnerable and in need being deprived of it—not against the principle of changing it and restricting it to some degree. I just wonder whether, in terms of lessons learned, a more general principle might be acknowledged that in future cuts, the Government will not look to making them from vulnerable or disabled people.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about impact of future benefit cuts on the vulnerable and disabled”Bishop of Gloucester asks about International Court of Justice Opinion on Israeli activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answer on 10th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government whether they will publish a response to the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences Arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and when.
Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about International Court of Justice Opinion on Israeli activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendment on bereavement policies in schools
On 9th June 2025, the Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill tabled by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, which would establish a requirement for schools to have bereavement policies to support children affected by loss:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I am grateful for the Bill as an opportunity to address a number of what we call adverse childhood experiences. I suspect that, given the lateness of the hour, we are not going to reach some of my amendments on care leavers that are scheduled for later. This group, particularly Amendment 171, deals with children who have experienced bereavement. Not much has been said about that in this short debate, so I will say a few words.
Continue reading “Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Bishop of Manchester supports amendment on bereavement policies in schools”Bishop of Southwark asks about recent attack on Anglican Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza and urges government to consider recognition of state of Palestine
On 9th June 2025, the Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the recent Israeli forces attack on the Anglican Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, and raised the need for the UK government to recognise the state of Palestine:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister and to His Majesty’s Government for the Statement on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. May I press the Minister on two things? The first is the attack by Israeli forces on the compound of the Anglican al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, killing five, including three journalists and a father escorting his son to the surgical unit for treatment for prior injuries. This is the latest in a number of attacks by the IDF on church hospitals and churches, in defiance of international law. Will the Minister accept that specific actions are now required, since reasoned pleas have been ignored?
Secondly, in light of what the Minister has said about the UN conference from 17 to 20 June and the conducive time to recognise Palestine, will he confirm that a bold and clear statement will be made at that conference of the Government’s firm intention to recognise the state of Palestine?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about recent attack on Anglican Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza and urges government to consider recognition of state of Palestine”Bishop of Southwark asks about impact of national insurance changes on SEND provision
The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the impact of changes to employer national insurance on SEND support and provision on 9th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: The Minister will recall from the amendment I tabled in Committee to what was then the Bill that my twin brother was an early beneficiary of SEND transport. Will the Government monitor the impact of national insurance increases on the effectiveness and continuity of provision in this area and inform the House of such findings in due course?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about impact of national insurance changes on SEND provision”Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of light pollution on people and wildlife
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 6th June 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what recent assessment they have made of the impact of light pollution on wildlife and people.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of light pollution on people and wildlife”
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