Bishop of Rochester raises disproportionate use of stop and search against black people

On 13th June 2016 Baroness Meacher asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they have any plans to review their drug policies in the light of the United Nations statements at the UN General Assembly Special Session on 19-21 April.” The Bishop of Rochester, Rt Revd James Langstaff, asked a follow up question:

RochesterThe Lord Bishop of Rochester: My Lords, I note the Minister’s disinclination to institute a review. None the less, I wonder whether he could assure the House that in some context or other, attention is being given to such matters as the information in a report by the charity Release published in 2013, which shows that black people were stopped and searched for drugs at more than six times the rate of white people, despite successive crime surveys showing that drug use in black communities is at a lower rate than in white communities? Continue reading “Bishop of Rochester raises disproportionate use of stop and search against black people”

Bishop of Derby supports bill on renters’ rights

Bishop of DerbyOn Friday 10th June  2016 the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Alastair Redfern spoke during the debate on Baroness Grender’s Renters’ Rights Bill. The Bishop highlighted his concerns about vulnerable people and malpractice by some rental landlords and property management agencies. 

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I too wish to offer some thoughts about the importance of the issues raised by the Bill and the sense of direction in which it seeks to travel.

First, I note the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Palmer, regarding a definition of so-called “rogue” landlords. The Housing and Planning Act has introduced a database of rogue landlords and property agents, which is to be made available to local authorities so that they can check for compliance, but there is a question over whether tenants should have access to that kind of information. Continue reading “Bishop of Derby supports bill on renters’ rights”

Church of England Week in Westminster 6th-10th June 2016

Westminster-abbeyWelcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

This week the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Durham gave evidence on immigration and asylum support to MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee. In the Lords the Bishop of Derby spoke in a debate on FGM, during debate on Bills about arms’ brokers and renter’s rights, and asked a question on DfID funding in Burma.  Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 6th-10th June 2016”

Bishop of Derby supports Bill to regulate arms brokers

DerbyOn the 10th June 2016 the Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern spoke during the Second Reading debate of Baroness Jolly’s Register of Arms Brokers Bill. The Bishop drew parallels with similar work he had undertaking in the area of  supply chain transparency during the passage of the Modern Slavery Act. 

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I rise to support the noble Baroness, Lady Jolly, and to make three simple points about why this such a powerful and necessary case. First, it builds upon existing legislation about licensing and export control, so we have a set of criteria and an assessment process in place so that all companies involved are scrutinised and licensed. We are doing the work that would provide the register. So the principle of identifying and monitoring arms brokers is established.

Continue reading “Bishop of Derby supports Bill to regulate arms brokers”

Bishop of Derby highlights importance of local grassroots work in combating FGM

On 9th June 2016 Lord Berkeley of Knighton led a short debate to ask Her Majesty’s Government “what steps they intend to take in the light of NHS statistics showing that in 2015 over 1,000 cases of female genital mutilation were reported every three months and the lack of any successful prosecutions to date.” The Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, spoke in the debate, highlighting the historic and cultural influences behind the practice and the work taking place at a local and grassroots level to reduce instances of FGM and support the law. 

Derby 191115cThe Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, for introducing this vital debate and making the point that we need to keep this subject in the public domain to raise awareness and challenge people.

I want to offer some perspectives from my experience in Derby, where I operate as a bishop at grassroots level, to try to help understand why we are in this position and how we might best tackle things. Your Lordships will know that FGM is a very ancient practice going back to at least the fifth century BC. It was mentioned by Herodotus, especially in Egypt and Ethiopia, all that time ago. I remind noble Lords that FGM was practised until the 1950s in western countries as part of dealing with what was then called “female deviancy”. Things such as hysteria, epilepsy and lesbianism were dealt with by this horrific practice as an enlightened medical approach to those conditions. We have to recognise that it is not only deeply embedded in ancient culture, but until quite recently in the west, we have been implicated in using this barbaric method for medical reasons. Continue reading “Bishop of Derby highlights importance of local grassroots work in combating FGM”

Home Affairs Select Committee hears from Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Durham – transcript

On Tuesday 7th June the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby and the Bishop of Durham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler gave evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons. They were asked questions on the migrant crisis, asylum support, the EU and faith community relations. HASC160607

The full transcript is available below or can be watched here – The Works of the Immigration Directorates (Q1 2016)

Continue reading “Home Affairs Select Committee hears from Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Durham – transcript”

Bishop of Derby asks about the future of DfID funding for civil society groups in Burma

Bishop of DerbyOn Monday 6th June 2016 Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty’s Government “what is their assessment of the current situation in Burma, in particular with regard to the reported continuing military offensives and violations of human rights of the Shan, Kachin and Rohingya people by the Burmese army.” The Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, is it true that DfID has decided prematurely to end funding for civil rights groups and civil society organisations that are working cross-border? Given the delicacy of the situation and the efforts to turn it around that have been referred to, should that decision, if it has been made, be reviewed so that we can play our part in helping those civil society organisations to make a full contribution? Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about the future of DfID funding for civil society groups in Burma”

Church of England Week in Westminster 23rd – 27th May 2016

Welcome to the Church of England’s weekly round-up of activity in Parliament.

Westminster-abbeyThis week the formal debate on the Queen’s Speech continued in the House of Lords, with bishops speaking on the themes of defence, international affairs, the economy, life chances, prison reform, counter-extremism, British values and human rights. The Bishop of Newcastle made her maiden speech to the House during the debate. Bishops also spoke in a debate on special educational needs provision and asked questions on domestic violence and the detention of pregnant women. The House rose for the Whitsun recess and will return on 6th June. Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 23rd – 27th May 2016”

Church Commissioners Written Question: Churches – Credit Unions

CarolineOn the 26th May 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner. Mrs Caroline Spelman MP answered a written question to the Church Commissioners about the Church of England’s engagement with credit unions.

Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Question: Churches – Credit Unions”

Bishop of Southwark: special educational needs children “not a burden but a gift”

On 26th May 2016 Lord Addington led a debate in the House of Lords “That this House takes note of the case for improved individual school capacity to deal with commonly occurring special educational needs and disabilities, in the light of the increasing number of academies and free schools.” The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, took part: 

SouthwarkThe Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I am also very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Addington, for securing this debate. Our schools prepare young people for our communities and are committed to seeing that all children are valued and respected, which serves to build a society where all know the fullness of life. Last week in this House, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Ely reminded us:

“Life in all its fullness means being exacting, rigorous, ambitious and having appetite for all that excellence demands”.—[Official Report, 19/6/16; col. 63.]

He added in another speech that,

“we cannot allow our commitment to academic rigour blind us to the fact that we are teaching people, not subject matter”.

This is core to the Christian idea of education as a matter of mutual flourishing, of which academic achievement is only a part, albeit an important part. Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark: special educational needs children “not a burden but a gift””