On 26th February 2025, the Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what progress has been made towards meeting the statutory environmental target of 16.5 per cent tree cover in England by 2050.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about climate and environment targets”On 25th February 2025, the House of Lords debated the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a bishop took part:
On 25th February 2025, the Bishop of Chelmsford spoke at a committee debate on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, it is very good to be here today and I am glad to be able to contribute on this important subject. As we consider a proposed uprating of 1.7%, as compared with 6.8% last year and 10.1% the year before, I am mindful of the different backdrop to this year’s decision. We may no longer be in a period of soaring inflation, but costs remain high in just about every area of life. The discrepancy between the inflation rate from September 2024, by which most means-tested benefits will be uprated, and the current rate of 3% will be felt particularly by those who have not benefited from wage growth this year. This is a timely moment to explore social security as the Government set out their wider agenda in this area.
The manifesto commitments to review universal credit as a means of supporting people into work and addressing poverty and to produce a child poverty strategy could give us a basis on which to improve the lives of millions of people in our country. Indeed, bold action is required in both these areas and, like other noble Lords, I await the outcome of these reviews with keen interest.
Continue reading “Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2025: Bishop of Chelmsford speaks in committee”
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th February 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of people diagnosed with lung cancer over the past five years who have never smoked.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about lung cancer in non-smokers”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th February 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Farm Retail Association forecasts that more than 700 farm shops could close in the coming decade.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about potential closure of farm shops”The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a question on introducing a legal definition of child criminal exploitation on 24th February 2025, during a discussion on county lines drug trafficking:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill introduces new offences, which appear to have no connection to immigration, of possessing any specified article that might be used in connection with any serious offence. What safeguards does the Minister think need to be in that Bill to prevent the needless criminalisation of children? Does he agree that a legal definition of child criminal exploitation might help in that?
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about safeguarding victims of child criminal exploitation”
The Bishop of Gloucester tabled a question on interventions to prevent reoffending among those convicted of domestic abuse on 24th February 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask His Majesty’s Government what programmes and interventions are used to reduce re-offending among domestic abusers in the community; and what are the re-offending rates of those who participate.
Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about prevention of reoffending in domestic abuse cases”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 24th February 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to raise the case of civil society activist Sombath Somphone at the UN’s fourth Universal Periodic Review of Laos on 29 April.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about disappearance of civil society activist in Laos”The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 24th February 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the World Economic Forum’s top two global risks over the next ten years, namely extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, and biodiversity loss.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about climate change, biodiversity, and the environment”
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 24th February 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to continue funding the work of rural housing enablers in facilitating affordable housing in rural areas.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about affordable housing in rural areas”
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