Bishop of Oxford calls for vigorous public debate on impact of artificial intelligence

Oxford 5718On 19th November 2018, Lord Clement-Jones tabled a Motion ‘That this House takes note of the Report from the Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence AI in the UK: ready, willing and able? (HL Paper 100).’ The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Steven Croft, served on the committee that produced the report and he spoke in the debate:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, it was a pleasure to serve as part of your Lordships’ Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, and an education. I join others in paying tribute to the expertise and skill of our chair, the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, and our excellent staff and advisers.

At the beginning of my engagement with AI, what kept me awake at night was the prospect of what AI might mean for the distant future: the advent of conscious machines, killer robots and artificial general intelligence. We are probably more than a generation away from those risks. But what kept me awake as the inquiry got under way—it really did—were the possibilities and risks of AI in the present.

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Bishop of Winchester voices concern about grade inflation

18.03.20 Winchester 2On the 19th November 2018, Lord Stevenson of Balmacara tabled an Oral Question ‘To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the review of the Teaching Excellence Framework is due to report and whether this review will include recommendations for judgements to be made on the change in the percentage of first class and upper second class degrees awarded by higher education institutions’. The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Tim Dakin, asked a supplementary question: Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester voices concern about grade inflation”

Week in Westminster, 12th-16th November 2018

This week in Parliament bishops spoke on the Budget, Brexit and the Prince of Wales’s 70th birthday. They also asked questions on violent crime, the death penalty and vaping. They also marked UK Parliament week and the centenary of women’s suffrage with a parliamentary event celebrating the role of women in the church and public life. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 12th-16th November 2018”

Bishop of Leeds asks if PM’s aim to bring country back together after Brexit is credible and achievable

On 15th November 2018 the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, responded to a Government statement on Brexit negotiations:

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Bishop of St Albans asks Government about church and grassroots efforts to tackle violent crime

On 15th November 2018 Lord Bach asked the Government ‘what steps they intend to take to strengthen the ability of police forces in England and Wales to tackle knife and other serious and violent crime in addition to funding provided by the Early Intervention Youth Fund.’ The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a follow up question:

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Archbishop pays tribute to HRH the Prince of Wales on his 70th birthday

On 14th November 2018 the House of Lords paid tribute to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Hon Justin Welby, spoke on behalf of the Bishops’ Benches:

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Bishop of Chelmsford – Budget is missed opportunity for environment

On 13th November 2018 the House of Lords debated the Chancellor’s Budget Statement. The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, spoke in the debate to highlight concerns about the environment, the two-child limit and fixed odds betting terminals.  

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, for many on these Benches there are measures to welcome in this Budget: for instance, the decision to increase the work allowances within universal credit for families with children and people with disabilities, as other noble Lords have mentioned. This goes a substantial way towards reversing the cuts announced in 2015. Likewise, the announcement of measures to aid the transition to universal credit, worth £1 billion over five years, is also welcome, as is the additional and non-repayable run-on support for new claimants to help people manage during the five-week waiting period before their first payment. However, I am disappointed that the run-on support does not cover the child elements of universal credit. Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford – Budget is missed opportunity for environment”

Senior women in the church celebrate UK Parliament Week and centenary of women’s suffrage

On Tuesday 13th November a reception was held in Parliament with bishops and the First and Second Church Estates Commissioners, to celebrate the role of women in the church and public life, and to mark UK Parliament Week and the centenary of women getting the vote. The Bishops of London, Gloucester and Bristol, and the First Church Estates Commissioner Loretta Minghella, were asked questions by Second Estates Commissioner Dame Caroline Spelman MP and an audience of parliamentarians and clergy.

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Bishop of Chelmsford warns about appeal to children of flavoured nicotine substitutes

On 13th November 2018 Lord Vaux of Harrowden asked the Government ‘whether they have any plans to restrict or ban the advertising or sale of flavoured nicotine vaping fluids.’ The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a follow-up question, which is in context below:

Baroness Thornton (Lab): The noble Lord, Lord Vaux, asked a legitimate Question about the flavoured nicotine substitutes that are on sale. If the Minister believes that we might see the emergence of vape flavours such as unicorn milk and rocket popsicles—which can only be designed to appeal to young people—can he confirm that the Government have plans for dealing with that?

Lord O’Shaughnessy: I am not sure who unicorn milk would appeal to—maybe my five year-old, but she is not smoking yet. Seriously, the point here is about advertising. It is quite right that they cannot be advertised to promote them but they can be advertised for public health reasons. They are incredibly effective at stopping people smoking. As I have said, we are not seeing the kind of abuse and the epidemic of youth usage that we have seen in the States, but we are alert to any signs that that may be the case.

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, the Minister’s joke makes the point. Does he agree that such flavours appeal to children and one needs to be careful about that? Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford warns about appeal to children of flavoured nicotine substitutes”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about deportations to countries where death penalty might be used

On 13th November 2018 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on the death penalty:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many individuals have been deported from the UK to countries where people can be sentenced to death without a death penalty assurance being sought since 2001. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about deportations to countries where death penalty might be used”