On 14th March 2017 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, received a written answer to a question to Government about Home Office officials in France, Greece and Italy.
The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what Home Office officials are based in (1) France, (2) Greece, and (3) Italy; and what is the operational role of each official. Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about Home Office officials’ roles in France, Greece and Italy”
On 14th March 2017 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to five questions to Government on aid and religious freedom in Iraq and Egypt. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about aid and religious freedom in Iraq and Egypt”
On 13th March 2017 several votes took place on amendments to the Government’s Higher Education and Research Bill. The Bishops of Chester, Durham and St Albans took part. Continue reading “Votes: Higher Education and Research Bill”
On 7th March 2017 the House of Lords considered the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Report. A vote was held on an amendment from Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Newby to hold a second referendum on the outcome of Brexit negotiations . Seven Lords Spiritual took part.
On 13th March 2017, the House of Lords considered the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill during ping pong, after the Commons had refused to accept amendments from the House of Lords. A vote was held on two amendments tabled by the Liberal Democrats to reinstate previously accepted amendments on the status of EU nationals and on parliamentary scrutiny. Five Lords Spiritual took part. Continue reading “Votes: EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – ping pong”
On Monday 13th March, the House of Lords debated an amendment to the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, during ping pong. This amendment would have insisted on retaining the Lords’ original amendment to protect the status of EU nationals in the UK. The Archbishop of York spoke against the amendment, which was later defeated during […]
On Monday 13th March, the House of Lords considered the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which had been returned to it by the House of Commons during a parliamentary process known as ‘ping pong’. MPs had rejected an amendment passed by the Lords to ensure Parliamentary scrutiny of any final EU negotiated deal. The Liberal Democrats tabled a further amendment to disagree with the Commons in its decision. The Archbishop of York, the Rt Hon and Most Rev Dr John Sentamu, spoke in favour of agreeing with the Commons (so opposing the amendment, which was later defeated during a vote).
The Archbishop of York: I shall not detain noble Lords long, but in response to the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, who always speaks with such clarity and grace, I must say that the problem with the amendment is with subsection (4). If the Prime Minister does not get an agreement, whatever she does she has to have the rule of Parliament. She will bring it to Parliament, but the problem is this, if I understand it right—that triggering Article 50 is an irreversible act. Continue reading “EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill: Archbishop of York speaks to amendment on Parliamentary Scrutiny”
On Monday 13th March, the House of Lords considered the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which had been returned to it by the House of Commons during a parliamentary process known as ‘ping pong’. MPs had rejected an amendment passed by the Lords to make protection of EU/EAA nationals a priority in the Brexit negotiation process. The Liberal Democrats tabled a further amendment to disagree with the Commons in its decision. The Archbishop of York, the Rt Hon and Most Rev Dr John Sentamu, spoke in favour of agreeing with the Commons (so opposing the amendment, which was later defeated during a vote).
The Archbishop of York: My Lords, I have been listening to what people have said and do not want to repeat anything. However, some of us objected to the amendments not because we lacked sympathy, understanding or compassion. We did it simply because we thought there was a confusion of process with substance. Continue reading “EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill: Archbishop of York speaks to amendment on EU Nationals”
On 13th March 2017 the Second Church Estates Commisioner Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Stewart Jackson MP on Peterborough Cathedral.
Mr Stewart Jackson(Peterborough): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what progress has been made on addressing the financial difficulties at Peterborough Cathedral; and if she will make a statement. Continue reading “Church Commssioners answer: Peterborough Cathedral”
Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.
This week in the House of Lords bishops spoke and voted on the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, the Criminal Finances Bill and proposed, spoke and voted on amendments to the Higher Education and Research Bill. Bishops also spoke in debates on assisted suicide, and a Private Member’s bill on ratifying the Istanbul Convention on gender based violence.They asked questions about Vauxhall-Opel, food banks, unaccompanied child refugees, gender-based violence, fly-tipping, humanitarian aid and minorities returning to Iraq. Continue reading “Week in Westminster, 6th-10th March 2017”
On 10th March 2017 the House of Lords considered at Second Reading the Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill, a Private Member’s Bill that originated in the House of Commons, sponsored in the Lords by Baroness Gale. The Bishop of St Albans spoke in support of the Bill.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: We on these Benches also give our wholehearted support to the Bill. I have been following this issue for some while—indeed, I have participated in previous debate and tabled some Questions. I congratulate Dr Eilidh Whiteford in the other place and the noble Baroness, Lady Gale, on the hard work that they and others have done in getting the Bill so far, and the many agencies involved in getting it to us today, including IC Change. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans supports Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill”
On 9th and 10th March 2017 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions of Government about funding for humanitarian work by faith-based organisations in Iraq:
The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 20 February (HL5245), what steps they are taking to encourage faith-based organisations in Iraq to access UK funding through the UN-managed Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government about funding of faith-based organisations for humanitarian work in Iraq”
The Church of England in Parliament 
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