Bishop of St Albans asks about rates of forced marriage offences

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th April 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 8 March (HL13499), how many cases were brought forward for (1) forcing someone to marry, and (2) breaching a forced marriage protection order, under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016, (d) 2017, (e) 2018, (f) 2019, and (g) 2020.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about rates of forced marriage offences”

Bishop of Winchester asks about impact of research funding cuts on UK aid to developing countries

The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answer on 12th April 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the cuts to UK Research and Innovation funding on (1) the role of the UK in supporting the global health response to COVID-19, and (2) the capacity of the UK to provide expertise to assist international development as proposed in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about impact of research funding cuts on UK aid to developing countries”

Bishop of London asks about potential mental health risks of asthma drug

The Bishop of London received the following written answer on 12th April 2021:

The Lord Bishop of London asked Her Majesty’s Government what recommendations have been made by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regarding the prominence of warnings concerning mental health risks associated with the use of Montelukast in children; and what is the timescale for implementation of any such recommendations.

Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about potential mental health risks of asthma drug”

Votes: COVID-19 pandemic and the Coronavirus Act 2020

On 25th March 2021, the House of Lords debated a report on the COVID-19 pandemic. A vote was held on a regret motion associated with the debate, in which a Bishop took part.

Continue reading “Votes: COVID-19 pandemic and the Coronavirus Act 2020”

Bishop of St Albans asks about availability of sites for the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Community

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on provisions for encampment sites for the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Community during a discussion on discrimination against these groups on 25th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: Research published by the FFT in January 2021 found that there were only 59 permanent and 42 transit pitches available across England. In response to the new police and crime Bill and proposals to allow for greater enforcement against unauthorised encampments, what provisions are being made to provide authorised sites for the GRT community? I am happy for the Minister to write to me if he does not have the figures to hand.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about availability of sites for the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Community”

Bishop of St Albans asks about migration statistics for those with British National (Overseas) status

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government how many people accessed the British National (Overseas) visa scheme within its first month.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about migration statistics for those with British National (Overseas) status”

Bishop of Albans asks about incidences of forced marriage overseas

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 8 March (HL13499), what estimate they have made of the number of girls resident in the UK who were married abroad when they were underage and brought back to the UK in (1) 2014,  (2) 2015, (3) 2016, (4) 2017, (5) 2018, (6) 2019, and (7) 2020.

Continue reading “Bishop of Albans asks about incidences of forced marriage overseas”

Votes: Financial Services Bill

On 24th March 2021, the House of Lords debated the Financial Services Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Continue reading “Votes: Financial Services Bill”

Bishop of Newcastle speaks about issues affecting housing market during debate on Archbishops’ Commission Coming Home Report

The Bishop of Newcastle gave a speech during the Archbishop of Canterbury’s debate on the Coming Home report from the Archbishops’ Commission, highlighting the issues in the housing stock in the North of England and the need for stable and secure homes:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, at a time when spirit-lifting is much needed, I can say with pleasure that my spirit has been lifted, as indeed has my heart, by this report from the Archbishop’s Commission. My heart and my spirit have been lifted because this report recognises that building homes and communities, not just houses, is of the deepest significance to the human dignity of every man, woman and child in this country and to the kind of society we aspire to build.

Continue reading “Bishop of Newcastle speaks about issues affecting housing market during debate on Archbishops’ Commission Coming Home Report”

Coming Home Report: Bishop of Manchester speaks in debate on housing

The Bishop of Manchester took part in the Archbishop of Canterbury’s debate on the Coming Home report from the Archbishops’ Council on 24th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I thank my most reverend friend the Archbishop of Canterbury for sponsoring this debate. My personal interest and passion in tackling homelessness and creating good homes for the people of our nation go far beyond the interests contained in the official register, to which I draw your Lordships’ attention. Alongside those, as the noble Lord, Lord Best, has indicated, I now chair the board of governors of the Church Commissioners, as deputy to my most reverend friend. I gladly confirm to your Lordships that the board welcomes the report, and indeed I am member of the group set up by the Church charged with overseeing its implementation.

Today we have no Bill to scrutinise, no complex Marshalled List of amendments to work through; what we have is something that runs far deeper, something that should underpin and equip us for such future legislation on the matter of housing as is brought forward to your Lordships’ House to determine. The five values for housing that the Archbishops’ Commission has set before us—sustainable, safe, stable, sociable and satisfying—have been implicit in much of the work I have engaged in over the years. But now we have them encapsulated in a simple and memorable form. Not least, they recognise that a home is far more than walls, roofs, bricks, tiles, glass and mortar. A home is somewhere we can belong.

Continue reading “Coming Home Report: Bishop of Manchester speaks in debate on housing”