Bishop of Gloucester asks about tackling violence against women and girls

The Bishop of Gloucester asked a question on the implementation of a framework to tackle root causes of violence and discrimination against women and girls on 9th March 2021, during a discussion on global efforts to increase women’s equality:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester [V]: I understand that the Government are investing over £67 million in the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls programme. What plans do they have to follow the lead set by Australia in developing a national primary prevention framework to tackle the root causes of bias and discrimination against women and girls?

Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about tackling violence against women and girls”

Bishop of Coventry asks about aid and refugee support in Sudan and Ethiopia

The Bishop of Coventry received the following written answers on 9th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to reports that over 60,000 refugees have left Ethiopia and entered Sudan following conflict in Darfur, what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) this does not destabilise Sudan, and (2) access to humanitarian aid is not affected.

Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about aid and refugee support in Sudan and Ethiopia”

Bishop of Worcester asks about human rights and freedom of religion and belief overseas

The Bishop of Worcester received the following written answers on 9th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Worcester asked Her Majesty’s Government which countries are observers to the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.

Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester asks about human rights and freedom of religion and belief overseas”

Bishop of Winchester asks about access to COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries

The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answer on 9th March 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the COVAX Facility’s ability to provide (1) timely, (2) equitable, and (3) universal, access to COVID-19 vaccines for developing countries; and what plans they have to work with other countries to coordinate the relaxation of intellectual property protections for COVID-19 pharmaceutical technology to allow for such access.

Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about access to COVID-19 vaccines in developing countries”

Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of Manchester presses Government on financial support for those fleeing domestic abuse

On 8th March 2021 the House of Lords considered amendments to the Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill at its Report Stage. The Bishop of Manchester had co-sponsored amendments with two other Peers, on exempting from the benefit cap for a year all those forced to claim benefits because of domestic abuse. The Government Minister responded to say that guidance would be strengthened to local authorities that those fleeing domestic abuse should be given priority in receiving discretionary housing payments. 
The Lord Bishop of Manchester [V]: My Lords, I thank the Minister for her response to this group of amendments, in particular to Amendments 72 and 102, to which I have added my name. I also thank her for her reassurance that local authorities will be given clear encouragement to prioritise the needs of domestic abuse victims, as the noble Lord, Lord Best, requested.
Can she ensure that national statistics on the number of such cases accepted and rejected in each year will be counted and made public?

Votes: Domestic Abuse Bill

On 8th March 2021 the House of Lords considered amendments to the Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill at its Report Stage.

Five bishops took part in a vote on an amendment from Baronesss Campbell of Surbiton on including carers or those with “personally connected lives” in the scope of the Bill to prevent abuse by a care giver. Continue reading “Votes: Domestic Abuse Bill”

Bishop of Worcester raises need for more family foster care provision

On 8th March 2021 the Bishop of Worcester asked a question he had tabled of Government on teenagers and older children in care.
The Lord Bishop of Worcester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of provision for teenagers in the care system.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Department for International Trade
(Baroness Berridge) (Con): My Lords, throughout the Covid-19 crisis, the Government have worked closely with local authorities to help ensure that they continue to meet their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in care, with particular regard to their education, health and well-being. Some £4.6 billion of funding has been made available to support councils, with a further £1.55 billion announced as part of the spending review.

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her Answer and for the good work that has been done. However, I am concerned that Barnardo’s declared a state of emergency in June last year as a result of a 44% increase in the number of children needing foster care referred to it. According to one investigation, more than 8,300 children were placed in unregulated, semi-independent accommodation last year. Many of those—more than one-third—were outside their local authority area. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that teenagers and older children in care are offered family-based provision, where they are more likely to thrive?

Church Commissioners written answer: worship numbers during pandemic

On 8th March the Second Church Estates Commissioner responded to a written question from Jim Shannon MP on worship during the covid-19 pandemic:

 Jim Shannon: [162605] To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of whether the online broadcasting of services during the covid-19 outbreak has increased the number of people participating in worship.

Continue reading “Church Commissioners written answer: worship numbers during pandemic”

Bishop of Worcester calls for targeted sanctions against those responsible for military coup in Myanmar

On 8th March 2021 the Bishop of Worcester received a written answer to a question on targeted sanctions against the Myanmar regime:

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to imposing targeted sanctions against those responsible for the military coup in Myanmar. [HL13549]

Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester calls for targeted sanctions against those responsible for military coup in Myanmar”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about social, health and economic effects of gambling

On 8th March 2021 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to two questions on the links between gambling and financial, social and health outcomes:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the finding of the study in the Nature Human Behaviour journal The association between gambling and financial, social and health outcomes in big financial data, published on 4 February, that increased gambling correlates with lower financial planning, missed mortgage payments, and increased bailiff interaction; and what assessment they have made of the potential for affordability checks in gambling to produce long-term secure financial outcomes for individuals. [HL13496]

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the finding of the study in the Nature Human Behaviour journal The association between gambling and financial, social and health outcomes in big financial data, published on 4 February, that increased gambling is associated with lower levels of socialisation and spending on local amenities; and what assessment they have made of the impact of online gambling on the local economy. [HL13497]
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about social, health and economic effects of gambling”