The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 6th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking through Official Development Assistance to support the rights of women and girls in Iraq, including in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about use of overseas aid to support women’s rights in Iraq”
The Bishop of Norwich spoke at the second reading of the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill on 5th March 2025, supporting the bill while raising queries on the work of army chaplains, the UK Armed Forces Families Strategy, and the definition of family members given in the bill:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his introduction. I saw it as a very positive step that the Labour Party pledged in its 2024 general election manifesto to establish an independent Armed Forces commissioner to improve service life.
I declare an interest as the father of a soldier. While my own son is enjoying his Army career and gaining much from it, previous speeches in your Lordships’ House and in the other place have cited record lows in morale and a crisis in recruitment and retention as driving this need for a strong, independent voice to represent the needs of service personnel and their families. So I see it as a very positive step forward that the Bill will enable any personnel or their families to raise a service welfare matter with the proposed commissioner, wherever in the world that matter may have taken place.
Service personnel and their families give much to this nation, as has already been said in your Lordships’ House. Much of that is unseen and can impact on extended family members, who often give unstinting support to loved ones during deployments and at other times. Personnel and their families never know what is around the corner or what might be expected of them, as we know all too well at present.
Continue reading “Armed Forces Commissioner Bill: Bishop of Norwich raises impact on families and army chaplaincy”
The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on ensuring study-abroad opportunities, particularly for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, on 5th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, universities in the Cathedrals Group—the 14 higher education institutions founded by the churches—have a higher proportion of students who progress to university when they are older, and/or who are the first in their family to progress to university. How will His Majesty’s Government ensure that all students who wish to, and particularly those experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, are able to access the life-changing opportunities afforded by studying abroad, given the loss to students of Erasmus funding?
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about study-abroad opportunities for UK students”
On 4th March 2025, the Bishop of Norwich asked a question on the UK’s commitments to Ukrainian defence, following a government statement on the status of the conflict:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I thank the Minister for the Statement and echo other comments in your Lordships’ House about the leadership that the Prime Minister has shown in recent days. In Norfolk last week, I spent time with some of the brave Ukrainian men and women who are being trained, over a very short five-week period, by the Irish Guards and instructors from a range of international allies under Operation Interflex, learning the vital skills that they need to defend their nation in the face of Putin’s illegal invasion. Will the Minister give assurances that this commitment to Operation Interflex and to train Ukrainian men and women remains absolutely ironclad and will continue for as long as it is needed?
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks government commitment to defence spending”On 4th March 2025, the House of Lords debated the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:
The Bishop of Manchester spoke during a debate on amendments to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, expressing concern over the potential effects on churches and other places of worship, and the effects on voluntary commitments:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I am grateful that we are debating the amendments in this group. I declare my interest, having lots of churches in Manchester that fall under the terms of the Bill.
Continue reading “Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Bishop of Manchester speaks to amendments”
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on publication of BBC translation guidelines on 4th March 2025, during a discussion on recent coverage on Gaza:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I understand that one of the particular worries was to do with the way certain phrases were translated, and therefore may have unwittingly biased people or been misleading. Will the BBC publish the principles and guidelines that are used for translation in these difficult situations?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about BBC translation guidelines”The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on addressing the root causes of violence against women and girls on 4th March 2025, during a discussion on relationship, sex, and health education:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, the Church of England’s National Society for Education is proud to be part of the White Ribbon project, whose aim is to prevent men’s violence against women and girls by addressing its root causes. In our Church schools, we support the ability to explore these themes in collective worship, RSHE curricula and class time. What plans do His Majesty’s Government have to address the root causes of violence against women and girls in their revised guidance?
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about addressing causes of violence against women and girls”The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on government obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on 3rd March 2025, during a discussion on climate change:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, on this World Wildlife Day, the day that the United Nations marks the adoption of the CITES—the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species—and given that climate change is having an impact on rare and endangered species and the habitats that support them, making them rarer and more endangered, even extinct, and driving up their illegal value, will the Minister allow us to hear a little bit more about how His Majesty’s Government are working to ensure that their obligations under the CITES are met?
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about protection of endangered species”
The Bishop of Lichfield received the following written answer on 3rd March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Lichfield asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to work with faith groups to support people being released from prison.
Continue reading “Bishop of Lichfield asks about support for faith groups working with prison leavers”
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.