Bishop of Portsmouth speaks in debate on role of the armed forces in “Global Britain”

The Bishop of Portsmouth spoke during a debate on the role of the UK armed forces in the government’s Global Britain agenda, raising the issue of the Armed Forces Covenant and the need to support the wellbeing and mental health of members of the armed forces and armed forces veterans:

The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth [V]: My Lords, if the Armed Forces are to continue to promote global Britain, we must look after them and fulfil our obligations under the Armed Forces covenant. Research by the Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland points to the difficulties that veterans are encountering in getting benefits assessors to understand post-traumatic stress disorder when scoring health assessments for disability benefits. One stated that:

“I supplied a consultant psychiatrist’s letter stating all my mental health conditions. I scored zero. This is laughable”.

I agree. A government spokesman has said that the report would be given careful consideration, but consideration must be given both carefully and urgently if we are to continue to promote global Britain.

Hansard

Archbishop of Canterbury asks about challenges facing global vaccine distribution

The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke during a discussion on global access to COVID-19 vaccinations on 21st January 2021, asking how the government planned to tackle issues facing vaccine distribution:

The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, we must welcome warmly the exceptional moral leadership in this remarkable donation to the COVAX programme, which I think is the largest of any country. However, in order to make the money work, and to follow up what the British ambassador, Julian Braithwaite, said at the WHO, we need a global vaccination campaign if we are to overcome this global pandemic. There are three particular obstructions to overcome. One relates to the use of surplus supplies of vaccine; for example, Canada has ordered more than five times what it needs for its population. The second is misinformation, mythical dangers or false stories being deliberately spread about the vaccines. Thirdly, in many parts of the countries that will need the vaccine, there are immense logistical difficulties in distributing it. To make the most of the financial leadership we have set and given our expertise, experience and success in the rollout in this country, what will the Government do to validate that gift by overcoming these three challenges?

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Bishop of Coventry asks about UN Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

The Bishop of Coventry tabled a question on the UK government’s view on the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 21st January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about costs of treating gambling addiction for the NHS

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the cost of gambling addiction to the NHS in each of the last five years; and (2) the likely cost in each of the next five years.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about new domestic violence scheme in the courts

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st Janaury 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards introducing Integrated Domestic Abuse Court pilot schemes.

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Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill: Bishop of Portsmouth speaks at second reading

On 20th January 2021, the Bishop of Portsmouth spoke at the second reading of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, questioning the effectiveness of the legislation and potential repercussions on legitimate claims against members of the the armed forces:

The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth [V]: My Lords, reflecting on the Bill, its intentions and likely legal effect reminded me of something I learned during my time as chaplain of Wadham College, Oxford, during the febrile days of the 1980s. Wadham was then, as now, a crucible of intellectual innovation, not least in literary studies. Its senior English fellow then was Terry Eagleton, who interested himself in a method of criticism known as deconstruction. This meant, I think, that the story we thought we were reading or being told was undermined by another narrative hidden within the text, so what we might have thought meant one thing often meant something entirely different.

The Bill before the House represents a model of deconstruction. The Government’s stated intention is, as we heard in the gracious Speech,

“to tackle vexatious claims that undermine our Armed Forces”.

I regret to say that I cannot see how the Bill, as drafted, fulfils that intention. The Government may then deserve two cheers for acting when other Governments have not, but action is not the same as outcome. The good intentions of Ministers and their statements in Parliament and the media do not match what the Bill will do. The Bill would do what the Bill states, not what the Government would like it to do, or what an MoD press release announces as its objectives. I leave it to other noble Lords far better qualified than I to reflect on the very troubling risk that the Bill might lead to crimes of torture going unpunished as well as providing an attractive precedent for those countries that have historically accepted lower standards than our own.

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Bishop of Gloucester asks about support for children under five and the early years sector amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Bishop of Gloucester tabled a question on the wellbeing of children under five and support for the early years and childcare sector in the course of the COVID-19 Pandemic on 20th January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the wellbeing of children under five affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps they are taking to support the early years sector affected by the pandemic.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about theft of religious artefacts from churches in Tigray

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 2oth January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that Eritrean soldiers are stealing religious artefacts from churches in Tigray.

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Bishop of Bristol asks about faith literacy when tackling domestic abuse

The Bishop of Bristol asked a question on equipping those tackling domestic abuse to understand faith contexts on 19th January 2021, following a government statement on Domestic Abuse and Hidden Harms during Lockdown:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol [V]: My Lords, I, too, express my thanks to the Government for their work on domestic abuse issues, particularly following the announcement of “Ask for Ani”. However, as the Minister will know, there are certain issues that particularly impact minority ethnic groups and people of faith. Will the Government look to take on the recommendations of the Keeping the Faith report and seek to increase faith literacy within secular bodies so that they are equipped to respond to particular harms found within a faith context?

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Bishop of Bristol asks about visas for touring musicians

The Bishop of Bristol asked a question on the costs of visas for musicians performing in the UK on 19th January 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, senior musicians I spoke to this weekend described experiences of agonising paperwork and fees, and sense that foreign promoters are already hesitant to offer engagements to UK groups. How do the Government intend to ensure that the increased costs associated with obtaining permits and administrating these tours will not, as a result, exclude all but the most privileged?

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