Church of England Week in Westminster, 1st – 5th February 2016

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

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This week bishops in the House of Lords spoke to amendments on the Government’s Immigration Bill and in debates on education and renewable energy. Bishops also asked questions on extremism and offence, fixed odds betting terminals, Palestinian statehood and house building on floodplains.

In the House of Commons the Second Church Estates Commissioner answered questions on the Queen’s 90th birthday, street pastors, ethical investments, women and BME clergy, credit unions, churches and community use and debt and poverty counselling.

 

Monday 1st February

BishSouthwarktaxcreditsThe Bishop of Norwich asked a question on Palestinian statehood.

The Bishop of Southwark spoke during the committee stage of the Government’s Immigration Bill.

 

Tuesday 2nd February

Bp Salisbury 2The Bishop of St Albans received a written answer to a question on fixed odds betting terminals.

The Bishop of Salisbury spoke and voted on a motion to annul Regulations on renewable energy feed in tariffs.

 

Wednesday 3rd February

Archbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury asked an oral question on extremism and offence.

14.06.12 Bishop of NorwichThe Bishop of Norwich spoke to amendments on the Government’s Immigration Bill, on the welfare of children, asylum support cuts, unaccompanied young people and care leavers, and family reunion.

 

Thursday 4th February

The Bishop of St Albans received an answer to a question on building homes on floodplains.

Caroline SpelmanThe Second Church Estates Commissioner published a written answer to a question on church buildings and community use. She also answered questions in the House of Commons on the Queen’s 90th Birthday, street pastors, ethical investments and tax avoidance, women and BME clergy and credit unions.

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on education.

 

Friday 5th February

The Second Church Estates Commissioner published a written answer to a question on work with debt and poverty campaign groups in Blackburn diocese.

Written answer: Debt and poverty campaign groups, Blackburn diocese

Church CommissionersOn 5th February 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, responded to a written question from Mark Hendrick MP:

Mr Mark Hendrick(Preston): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, on how many occasions buildings or parts of buildings have been made available by the Diocese of Blackburn and churches within its boundaries to (a) Christians Against Poverty and (b) other organisations providing debt counselling and employment services or campaigning against poverty. Continue reading “Written answer: Debt and poverty campaign groups, Blackburn diocese”

Bishop of Norwich calls for RE to be included in the English Baccalaureate

On 4th February 2016 the House of Lords debated a motion from the Earl of Clancarty, “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that children receive a balanced and rounded education in schools; and what effect the English baccalaureate requirements will have in that regard.” The Bishop of Norwich spoke in the debate, highlighting the need for RE to be considered in the English Baccalaureate and the importance of overseas visits in providing rounded education.

14.06.12 Bishop of NorwichThe Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, like others, I am very grateful to the noble Earl for securing this short debate. The importance of this subject is out of all proportion to the length of our discussion.

I agree with so much that has been said but I shall concentrate on two specific issues. The first, noble Lords will not be surprised to hear, concerns the omission of religious education from the English baccalaureate. I realise that it is not the only omission—I would rather like art, music and much else to be there, too—but I believe that it is a serious mistake that is going to be deleterious to a rounded education. Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich calls for RE to be included in the English Baccalaureate”

Church Commissioner questions – Queen, street pastors, investments, women & BME clergy, credit unions

On 4th February 2016 MPs put questions to the Church Commissioners in the House of Commons.

Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Second Church Estates Commissioner, was asked questions on the Queen’s 90th Birthday, street pastors, ethical investments and tax avoidance, women and BME clergy and credit unions. The transcript is below.

Spelman CCQs June 2015 4 Continue reading “Church Commissioner questions – Queen, street pastors, investments, women & BME clergy, credit unions”

Written Answer: Church buildings and community use

On 4th February 2016, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Second Church Estates Commissioner, responded to a written question from Karl McCartney MP, on the community use of church buildings:

Church CommissionersChurch of England: Community Relations: Written question – 

Karl McCartney (Lincoln) To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England is taking to ensure that its buildings are open for wider community use.

Bishop of St Albans asks about new housebuilding on floodplains

On 4th February 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on flooding.

StAlbans171115The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of new houses built in each of the years from 2010 to 2015 were built on floodplains, and whether they expect that proportion to change in the next five years. [HL5515]

 

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about new housebuilding on floodplains”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on review of family reunion programme for refugees

On the 3rd February 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill in committee. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of an amendment co-sponsored by the Bishop of Southwark on family reunion for refugees. Following the response from the Government the amendment was withdrawn.

 The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Southwark, who has added his name to Amendment 234, cannot be in his place, but I am glad to speak on my own behalf and, I hope, for him, too, since we are of one mind on this matter. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on review of family reunion programme for refugees”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich backs amendment on support for unaccompanied young people seeking asylum

On the 3rd February 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill in committee. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of an amendment from Lord Alton of Liverpool proposing the extension of Local Authority support for young people and care leavers seeking asylum.  The Bishop spoke about the danger of young people disappearing, without necessary support.  The amendment was withdrawn after debate.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I do not want to detain the Committee because we have heard the significance of these amendments, to some of which I have added my name. I want to follow what the noble Lord, Lord Judd, has just said because we all know that the consequence of not providing for these young people when they leave the care system is serious because they are going to remain in this country. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich backs amendment on support for unaccompanied young people seeking asylum”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich urges Government to reconsider cuts in asylum support

On the 3rd February 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill in committee. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of an amendment to clause 37 on levels of support for those seeking asylum.  The Bishop echoed the concerns of the Bishop of Southwark, made at the Bill’s Second Reading, that further reducing the weekly support for people in the asylum system was unwelcome. After debate Peers decided to let the clause stand as part of the Bill.

 

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I support Amendment 230 in this group. My colleague, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Southwark, spoke at Second Reading of his concern about the architecture of Clause 37 and Schedule 8. I share his belief that the reduced weekly support of £36.95 per person, to which the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, referred, for an asylum seeker under the current system is inadequate. Where that financial provision is refused, it is subject to a right of appeal. I note that in nearly two-thirds of such appeal cases, the appeal is successful or the refusal is withdrawn. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich urges Government to reconsider cuts in asylum support”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on welfare of child refugees

On the 3rd February 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Immigration Bill in committee. The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, spoke in support of an amendment to clause 34 of the Bill, related to appeals and certification of human rights claims. The Bishop spoke about the need for the new legislation to better identify and protect childrens’ best interests.

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I rise from these Benches to support Amendment 227 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Rosser, and others.

The briefing note on Clause 34 to which the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, referred is a model of clarity. It was certainly very informative to me. It made clear, as the noble Baroness said, the statutory duty on the Secretary of State,

“to have regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of any child in the UK who … may be affected by any immigration decision”—

that duty is not in doubt—and that,

“the best interests of the child are a primary consideration”.

While I understand that a primary consideration may not be the only one, I do not understand how a primary consideration can be set aside even if it is in some way qualified. If it is trumped by other factors, it does not seem to be a primary consideration. So there must be a risk that Clause 34 unamended could undermine the Secretary of State’s statutory duty. Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on welfare of child refugees”