Bishop of St Albans asks about targets for disabled-access homes

On 4th November 2020 Baroness Greengross asked the  Government “what steps they are taking to ensure that changes to the planning system will deliver more homes that are accessible for people with disabilities.” The Bishop of St Albans asked a further question:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: My Lords, with regions such as the north-west, the north-east and Yorkshire hosting less than one disabled-access home ​for every 100 homes, and regions such as the West Midlands hosting just over one disabled-access home for every 300 homes, given that 15.2% of the population is elderly and 18% of the population is disabled, is it now time that the Government mandated targets for disabled-access homes rather than simply relying on local authorities? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about targets for disabled-access homes”

Bishop of Leeds asks about military conflict in Nagorno Karabakh

On 4th November 2020 the Bishop of Leeds received answers to four written questions on the military conflict in Nagorno Karabakh:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate the return of prisoners of war and bodies from the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. [HL9728] Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about military conflict in Nagorno Karabakh”

Bishop of Winchester asks Government for evidence to support lockdown suspension of public worship

On 3rd November 2020 the House of Lords heard the repeat of a statement made by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, announcing a second lockdown in England to tackle coronavirus. The Bishop of Winchester responded to the news that public worship would not be allowed to continue during the lockdown period:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester [V]: My Lords, the situation facing the country is gravely concerning and we all have a collective responsibility to avoid over- whelming the NHS with the spread of the virus. Churches and faith communities continue to play a crucial role in supporting their local communities. The social and economic support of churches has been estimated at more than £12 billion a year. In my diocese, many churches have offered emergency food and essential supplies to those in desperate need as part of the love your neighbour initiative. It is pleasing, therefore, that the Government have recognised the significance of this contribution by permitting places of worship to continue to offer such essential services during lockdown. I also welcome the provision for private prayer, broadcast and the continuation of funerals.

However the most reverend Primates the Archbishops and the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of London said in their letter to clergy this weekend:

“The sacramental life of the church cannot be seen as an optional extra.”

Access to the sacraments and communal worship are essential to sustain us with much needed hope at this time and to strengthen our commitment to social action. Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks Government for evidence to support lockdown suspension of public worship”

Bishop of Winchester asks whether employers are using apprenticeship funding for new recruits

On 3rd November 2020 Lord Haskel asked the Government “what steps they are taking (1) to rationalise the number of, and (2) to set standards for, qualifications to ensure that such qualifications are of value to (a) individuals, and (b) employers.” The Bishop of Winchester asked a further question:

The Lord Bishop of Winchester [V]: My Lords, a recent survey of apprenticeship employers published by the Department for Education indicates that employers see higher apprenticeships as better value for money than lower level 2 and 3 apprenticeships, so they are utilising levy funds to upskill existing staff, rather than to train new recruits. Can the Minister confirm what plans Her Majesty’s Government have to prevent further decline in level 2 apprenticeships to ensure that these apprenticeship pathways are available to new recruits across the country? Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks whether employers are using apprenticeship funding for new recruits”

Bishop of Durham asks Government about right to work of asylum seekers

On 3rd November 2020 the Bishop of Durham received a written answer to three questions to Government on the right to work of asylum seekers:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 29 September (HL8116), what plans they have to publish the terms of reference for the Home Office review into the right to work of asylum seekers. [HL9359]

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 29 September (HL8116), what external organisations have been (1) formally, and (2) informally, consulted as part of the Home Office review into the right to work of asylum seekers. [HL9360]

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the response by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 9 September (HL Deb, col 820), when the review into the right to work of asylum seekers will be laid before the House. [HL9361] Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks Government about right to work of asylum seekers”

Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling and armed forces

On 3rd November 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to two questions on gambling and the armed forces:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the existing syllabus for new recruits to the armed forces currently includes training on gambling related harm. [HL9440]

 The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to enact legislation similar to the Gambling Addiction Prevention Act 2019 in the United States, which legally requires the development and implementation of policies and programmes to prevent and treat gambling disorders among members of the armed forces and their dependants. [HL9441] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling and armed forces”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about possible war crimes by Azerbaijan military

On 3rd November 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on the behaviour of the Azerbaijan military in Nagorno Karabakh:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the validity of footage showing Azerbaijan Military personnel executing two Armenian prisoners of war; and whether this constitutes a violation of the Geneva Convention. [HL9582] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about possible war crimes by Azerbaijan military”

Bishop of St Albans asks about human rights in China

On 3rd November 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on China’s election to the UN Human Rights Council:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the government of China’s election to the UN Human Rights Council on 13 October, and (2) the impact of that election on that Council’s ability to hold the government of China accountable for the human rights situation in that country. [HL9378] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about human rights in China”

Bishop of St Albans asks about funding for fibre broadband

On 3rd November 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on fibre broadband:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement that the long-term spending review will be replaced by a one-year spending review, whether plans to service the UK with fibre broadband by 2025 will be included as a multi-year capital allocation priority infrastructure project. [HL9493] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about funding for fibre broadband”

Bishop of St Albans asks whether sef-determination for Nagorno-Karabakh will protect Armenians from ethnic cleansing

On Monday 2nd November 2020 Baroness Cox asked the Government, “further to the genocide emergency alert issued by Genocide Watch about the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, what assessment they have made of their obligations as a signatory to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.” The Bishop of St Albans asked a further question:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: Will the Minister comment on whether Her Majesty’s Government believe that the criteria used to recognise Kosovo and the principle of internal self-determination which protects minority rights equally applies to the Armenians and Nagorno-Karabakh and on whether recognition might, as in Kosovo, prevent the possible ethnic cleansing of Armenians, which has historically characterised territorial border conflicts in that part of the Caucasus? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks whether sef-determination for Nagorno-Karabakh will protect Armenians from ethnic cleansing”