Bishop of London asks Government about air pollution in London

On 15th October 2015 Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether they have any proposals to improve air quality in Britain, especially in London.” The Bishop of London, Rt Revd Richard Chartres asked a supplementary question.

LondonThe Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, in the Minister’s reply, mention was made of the Mayor of London. Is the Minister absolutely convinced that the mayor, together with the boroughs and the City of London, has the necessary powers to effect a pan-London improvement of the situation? Obviously, pollution does not respect borough boundaries and the impression locally is that, at the moment, the mayor does not have the requisite powers. Continue reading “Bishop of London asks Government about air pollution in London”

Bishop of Derby asks about police responses to reported cases of child trafficking

On 15th October 2015 Baroness Doocey asked Her Majesty’s Government “whether there has been an increase in the number of cases of child trafficking reported since the Modern Slavery Act 2015 was passed.” The Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of DerbyThe Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, what is being done to ensure that the responses of police forces to their new responsibilities is uniform across the country, because it may be very patchy with budget pressures? Will the Government take a lead to ensure a uniform response of police forces to these responsibilities across the country? Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about police responses to reported cases of child trafficking”

Bishop of Truro asks Government for figures on numbers of short term benefit advances awarded

On 15th October 2015 the Bishop of Truro, Rt Revd Tim Thornton, received a written answer to a question on short term benefit advances.

Bishop of Truro 20.6.13

The Lord Bishop of Truro: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to publish data on the number of claims and
awards of Short Term Benefit Advances and Universal
Credit Short Term Advances. Continue reading “Bishop of Truro asks Government for figures on numbers of short term benefit advances awarded”

Bishop of Derby asks Government about procedures for identifying benefit fraud

On 15th October 2015 the Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, received answers to three written questions on how Jobcentre Plus deals with benefit fraud.

Bishop of DerbyThe Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty’s Government

(i) what policy is in place to enable Jobcentre Plus officers to identify benefit fraud.

(ii) how Jobcentre Plus officers report suspected benefit fraud.

(iii)  whether there is a statutory obligation for Jobcentre Plus officers to report suspected benefit fraud.  Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks Government about procedures for identifying benefit fraud”

Division on the Childcare Bill over funding

On 14th October 2015 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Childcare Bill at its Report stage. The House voted on an amendment from Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, which sought to delay the introduction of Government plans to double the amount of free childcare for parents of three and four-year-olds until a full analysis of the funding the policy had been carried out. An ITV news report on the vote is here.

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

Amendment: ‘before clause 1, to insert the new clause Funding review’.

The House divided: Contents: 222 | Not Contents: 209 | Result: Government Defeat

The Bishop of St Albans voted content. No bishop voted not content.

(via Parliament.uk)

EU Referendum Bill – speech by the Bishop of London

“There must be more to this referendum than a calculation of the temporary individual economic benefit or disbenefit of membership of the Union in its present form” – Bishop of London 13/10/15

Bp London 131015On 13th October 2015 the House of Lords debated the EU Referendum Bill at its Second Reading. The Bishop of London, Rt Rev Richard Chartres, spoke in the debate.

The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, in a matter as grave as the future relations between Britain and the European Union, there is perhaps a case for a referendum, which one hopes would settle the direction of travel for a generation. The referendum habit has elsewhere proved contagious. They tend to be run again if those in power do not get the answer they want. There must be a very strong case to justify an exception from our settled preference for a representative democracy that permits the kinds of compromises that the art of government requires. Continue reading “EU Referendum Bill – speech by the Bishop of London”

Bishop of Bristol asks Government about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record

On 13th October 2015 the Bishop of Bristol, Rt Rev Mike Hill, received answers to two written questions of Government on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

Bishop of Bristol June 2015The Lord Bishop of Bristol: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the appointment of Saudi Arabia to head a panel at the UN Human Rights Council. Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks Government about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record”

Bishop of Coventry raises case of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr and capital punishment in Saudi Arabia

On 13th October 2015 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions on the use of crucifixion as criminal punishment in Saudi Arabia and the case of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr.

13.10 Bishop of CoventryThe Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to Saudi Arabia regarding the use of beheading and crucifixion as criminal punishments.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, especially in cases which do not meet the minimum standards defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry raises case of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr and capital punishment in Saudi Arabia”

Bishop of London speaks in support of apprenticeships measures in Enterprise Bill

On 12th October 2015 the Bishop of London, Rt Revd Richard Chartres, spoke in the Second Reading debate on the Government’s Enterprise Bill, to highlight the importance of apprenticeships.

LondonThe Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, as has been said, the Bill is modest in ambition but still very useful, especially the proposals in Part 4 setting targets for apprenticeships and containing measures for protecting the brand.I was fascinated by the Minister’s throwaway suggestion that there ought to be some ceremonies to symbolise the successful conclusion of apprenticeships. Speaking as a representative of “Rituals ‘R’ Us”, I could certainly offer a consultancy. We might even have apprenticeships in the Diaghilev industry that I can see growing today.

I was recently at the topping-out ceremony for the new Bloomberg building in the City of London. It covers three acres and will contain the largest quantity of stone of any building in the City since the construction of St Paul’s, so I dread to think what has happened to Derbyshire as a consequence. Continue reading “Bishop of London speaks in support of apprenticeships measures in Enterprise Bill”

Bishop of Coventry asks Government if counter-terrorism measures are preventing funds reaching humanitarian agencies in Syria

13.10 Bishop of CoventryOn the 30th September 2015 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received a written answer to a question of Government about the effectiveness of counter terrorism legislation and its impact on NGOs based in Syria.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of current counter terrorism legislation; and whether it prevents funding of Syrian non-governmental organisations and faith-based organisations who are best placed to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Syria. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks Government if counter-terrorism measures are preventing funds reaching humanitarian agencies in Syria”