Bishop of St Albans asks about plight of Eritrean refugees

On 2nd December 2020 the Bishop of St Albans asked a question in the Lords during exchanges on a question from Lord Alton about the announcement by the Ethiopian Government on 30 November about military operations in the northern Tigray region:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: Prior to the conflict, Tigray was a safe haven for Eritrean refugees afraid to return home because of fear of persecution. With Eritrea’s rumoured involvement in the conflict against the TPLF, what assessment have Her Majesty’s Government made of the validity of claims that the Eritrean military are forcing refugees into trucks and abducting them back to Eritrea?

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Bishops ask abouut conflict, peace, reconstruction in Nagorno Karabakh

On 2nd and 3rd December 2020 the Bishops of St Albans, Coventry, Southwark and Leeds received written answers to seven questions about armed conflict, peace, reconstruction and religious and cultural sites in Nagorno Karabakh:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from the Armenian diaspora about (1) the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and (2) the ceasefire agreement brokered by the government of Russia. [HL10643]

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Bishop of St Albans asks about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

On 2nd December 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on the impact of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the economic, and (2) the diplomatic, consequences for the UK of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. [HL10490]

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Bishop of St Albans asks about coronavirus impact on hospice funding

On 2nd December the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on hospice funding and coronavirus:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on charitable hospice care providers. [HL10540]
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have put in place to financially support charitable hospice care providers; and what assessment they have made of the impact of visiting restrictions in hospitals on the level of demand experienced by such providers. [HL10541]

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Bishop of London asks about elderly domestic abuse during covid-19 lockdown

On 1st December 2020 the Bishop of London asked an oral question on research into facts about domestic abuse of older people during the Covid-19 lockdown:
The Lord Bishop of London [V] : My Lords, as the Minister has commented, at present, we only collect data on those aged between 60 and 74. While she is making a commitment to work with the ONS to collect data on those aged over 74, will she commit to removing this age limit so we can highlight the experience of this older demographic?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about covid-19 rules on outdoor carol singing

On 1st December 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on outdoor carol singing and coronavirus:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether outdoor congregational carol singing will be permitted as part of their COVID-19 Winter Plan. [HL10710]

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Bishop of Carlisle asks about access to affordable cancer treatments in developing countries

On 30th November 2020 questions were put in the House of Lords on vaccine distribution. The Bishop of Carlisle asked a question:

The Lord Bishop of Carlisle: My Lords, for obvious reasons we have focused largely on equal access to vaccines but, given the broader significance and implications of this Oral Question on affordable drugs and the fact that Global Cancer Week took place earlier this month, are any negotiations currently taking place on access to affordable cancer treatments, especially in developing countries? Continue reading “Bishop of Carlisle asks about access to affordable cancer treatments in developing countries”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about gambling regulation and children

On 30th November the Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to three questions on gambling regulation and children:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 10 November (HL9946), what representations they have made to the (1) Gambling Commission, and (2) Electronic Money Association, about encouraging the providers of e-wallets to introduce gambling blocks. [HL10374]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 10 November (HL9946), what representations they have made to the Gambling Commission to encourage building societies to introduce gambling blocks on personal current accounts and credit cards. [HL10375] https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-11-16/hl10375
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the findings of the survey published by the Gambling Commission Young People & Gambling 2020, published in August, what representations they have made to the Advertising Standards Authority on what further measures can be taken to reduce childhood exposure to gambling. [HL10376] https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-11-16/hl10376

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Week in Westminster, 23rd -27th November 2020

Parliament met in Westminster and online this week. The Bishop of St Albans was on duty in the House of Lords and read prayers at the start of each sitting day.

The Bishop of Worcester responded to news of the cut in the overseas aid budget, describing it as a broken promise to the poorest.

The Bishop of St Albans asked Government about the rural economy, nuclear weapons, valuing the civil service, diversity on the Equality and Human Rights Commission board, and received written answers to questions on gambling (advertising, rehabilitation, education and football), technology used for detention of Uyghurs in China, and protection of monasteries and churches in Nagorno-Karabakh.

He, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Leeds voted on amendments to the Government’s UK Internal Market Bill.

The Bishop of Durham asked about the resumption of the refugee resettlement scheme.

The Bishop of Portsmouth welcomed the Government’s integrated review of foreign, defence, security and development policy.

In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered questions from MPs on public worship, tree planting, Christmas services, gender-based violence, Living in Love and Faith, cathedral services, Christian persecution, community support and consistory court appeals.

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about rural economy

On 26th November 2020 the Bishop of St Albans asked a question he had tabled to Government on tabled a question he had asked about the rural economy. The exchange is below, with the further questions asked by other Members:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to their response to the report by the Select Committee on the Rural Economy Time for a strategy for the rural economy (HL Paper 330, Session 2017-19), what progress they have made towards their strategic vision for rural communities. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about rural economy”