Archbishop – no right not to be offended by frank assertions about faith

On Wednesday 3rd February 2016 Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty’s Government “what progress has been made by the review into funding for extremist interpretations of Islam within the United Kingdom, including from overseas sources, announced by the Prime Minister on 2 December 2015 with the declared intention that it would report by the spring of 2016.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, asked a follow up question:

Archbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, it is widely agreed that all statements that tend towards causing hatred, contempt and violence towards other faiths should not be permitted, but does the Minister nevertheless agree that it is not extremist in any way, and should in fact be encouraged, for there to be statements that are frank and categorical assertions of faith or no faith, and that there is no right not to be offended or hurt by such statements? Continue reading “Archbishop – no right not to be offended by frank assertions about faith”

Division: Renewable energy feed in tariff regulations

Lords No Division LobbyOn the 2nd January 2016 the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, took part in a division on the Governments Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2015.  Baroness Featherstone proposed that the Regulations, which would see cuts made to the tariffs, be annulled.

The House Divided: Content: 91 | Not Contents: 230 | Result: Government Win. 

The Bishop of Salisbury spoke in the debate . He voted Not Content.

(Via Parliament.UK)

 

Bishop of Salisbury points to gap between rhetoric and reality in Government policy on renewable energy

On the 2nd January 2016 the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, spoke during a debate on a motion from Baroness Featherstone to annul the Government’s Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2015. The Bishop spoke of a gap between the rhetoric and reality in the Government’s record on energy policy, citing the impact of cuts to feed in tariffs on the renewable energy sector.

Bp Salisbury 2The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I am very grateful for this debate. When I joined this House last year, I was really struck by how it was possible to work with Members from all parts of the House in preparation for Paris and by the strong sense of common purpose with which we could work together. I am grateful for the contribution from the noble Lord, Lord Deben, in terms of what now happens, post-Paris, and how we move on. However, I am unable to support a fatal Motion. On the other hand, it is really important that the House discusses where the Government are with their energy policy, and that is what this debate is able to do. Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury points to gap between rhetoric and reality in Government policy on renewable energy”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about tax receipts from fixed odds betting terminals

StAlbans171115On 2nd February 2016 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on fixed odds betting terminals.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much tax  revenue they have collected directly from fixed-odds betting terminals in each of the years from 2010–11 to 2014–15 inclusive.  Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about tax receipts from fixed odds betting terminals”

Immigration Bill: Bishop of Southwark raises concerns about new search powers

On 1st February 2016, the House of Lords held the 3rd day of the Committee Stage of the Government’s Immigration Bill. The Bishop of Southwark, Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, spoke to an amendment that sought to remove Clause 17 from the bill (‘Powers to carry out searches relating to driving licences’)

BishSouthwarktaxcreditsThe Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I share some of the concerns of the noble Baroness, Lady Lawrence, who sketched out the problems with enacting this clause. As the Government rightly tell us, reasonable suspicion is a well-established precept in English law and policing practice. However, this does not mean that it is infinitely elastic in its application. A prior question needs to be asked when legislating: is it applicable in this circumstance, and with what effect?

Continue reading “Immigration Bill: Bishop of Southwark raises concerns about new search powers”

Bishop of Norwich asks government to recognise Palestinian Statehood

14.06.12 Bishop of Norwich

On 1st February 2016 Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they plan to recognise Palestine as a state.” The Bishop of Norwich, Rt Revd Graham James, asked a follow up question. Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks government to recognise Palestinian Statehood”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 25th-29th January 2016

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

cropped-palace_of_westminster_london_-_feb_2007.jpg

This week the Bishop of  Newcastle was Introduced to the Lords and took her seat as the Second female Lord Spiritual, supported by the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Southwark.

Bishops tabled, spoke to and voted on amendments to the Government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill (including successfully passing an amendment on child poverty reporting). Bishops also spoke during debates on the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill, local democracy and education and lifelong learning. They also asked questions about private sponsorship for unaccompanied child refugees, the ‘family test’, Christian-Muslim relations, junior doctors’ pay, prepaid energy meters and on forestry. The Bishop of Durham also led debates to approve two Church of England Measures – on safeguarding and diocesan finance.

Monday 25th January

14.06.10 Bishop of Durham 5The Bishop of Durham successfully passed an amendment to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on reporting child poverty. He also spoke in support of an amendment on life chances. The Bishop of St Albans supported an amendment on disability reporting. Bishops took part in Divisions on the Bill.

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about forestry. The Bishop of Durham responded to a Government statement on unaccompanied child refugees.

Tuesday 26th January

ImageGen

The Bishop of Newcastle was  Introduced to the Lords and took her seat.

The Bishop of Worcester asked a question about the Government’s family test. The Archbishop of York also asked about family policy.

The Bishop of Rochester and the Bishop of St Albans both spoke in the Second Reading debate of the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill.

Wednesday 27th January

The Bishop of Worcester asked a question about Christian-Muslim relations.

The Bishop of Chester asked a question about junior doctors’ pay.

BishPortsspeechtaxcreditsThe Bishop of Portsmouth spoke to amendments he had tabled to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on exemptions to the two-child limit. The Bishop of Durham also spoke in favour of the amendments, as well as to others on supported housing.

The Bishop of st Albans supported amendments on the Employment Support Allowance.

Thursday 28th January

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about prepaid energy meters.

Derby 191115cThe Bishop of Durham and the Bishop of Derby both spoke in a debate on local democracy.

The Bishop of Derby also spoke in a debate on education and lifelong learning.

The Bishop of Durham led a debate to approve Church of England Measures on safeguarding and on diocesan finance.

Friday 29th January

Chelmsford 251115The Bishop of Chelmsford spoke in support of a Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility.

Bishop of Chelmsford supports Bill to raise age of criminal responsibility

On 29th January 2016 the House of Lords debated at Second Reading the Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill – a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Dholakia. The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, spoke in the debate, supporting the objective of the Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years. The Bill was given a Second Reading and proceeded to its next parliamentary stage.

Chelmsford 251115The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, in rising to support the noble Lord, Lord Dholakia—and, indeed, pledging the support of the church to this campaign—I need to declare an interest: I was a child once and got into some scrapes. Now I am a parent and in the work I do hardly a week goes by when I am not in schools. Indeed, last year I had the sad but very moving honour of opening a garden of remembrance in the diocese where I serve in east London for young people who were the victims of, indeed had been killed by, knife crime. So I do not underestimate the seriousness of the crimes that we are talking about, nor the fact that children and young people do commit them. Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford supports Bill to raise age of criminal responsibility”

Lords approves Diocesan Stipends Funds (Amendment) Measure

On January 28th 2016 the House of Lords debated and passed the Church of England Diocesan Stipends Funds (Amendment) Measure. The Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, led the short debate and a transcript is below: 

 

Moved by The Lord Bishop of Durham

That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Diocesan Stipends Funds (Amendment) Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent.

Bp Durham June 2015 bThe Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, this is a very short and technical draft measure. It amends the Diocesan Stipends Funds Measure 1953 to ensure that diocesan boards of finance have the same powers to make decisions about the balance of investments in the diocesan stipends fund that they have in relation to their other charitable property. Continue reading “Lords approves Diocesan Stipends Funds (Amendment) Measure”

Lords approves CofE Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure – Bishop of Durham leads debate

On 28th January 2016 the Bishop of Durham, Rt Revd Paul Butler, moved a motion that the House of Lords approve the Church of England’s Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure. Peers gave approval to the Measure, following a short debate – the full transcript of which is below.

Moved by The Lord Bishop of Durham

That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure be presented to Her Majesty for the Royal Assent.

Bp Durham June 2015 bThe Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure is set in the context of our commitment, as the Church of England, to keep becoming a safer church. The Measure itself is only one part of all the work that we are undertaking. The Measure is before your Lordships because the church believes it needs to improve its statutory arrangements: first, to prevent the abuse of children and adults at risk within the church community; and, secondly, to deal effectively with those in authority within the church who seek to harm children and vulnerable adults. Continue reading “Lords approves CofE Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure – Bishop of Durham leads debate”