Bishop of Chester asks for clarification from Government over civil partnership and inheritance tax

On the 9th September 2015 Lord Lexden asked a question to the Government about why they have no plans to amend the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to enable siblings to register as civil partners. The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster asked a short supplementary question as a point of clarification.

14.03 Bishop of ChesterThe Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, can the Minister confirm what I think I heard her say—that the change in the inheritance arrangements for married people and civil partners, which will enable an exemption from inheritance tax, actually applies to siblings as well? That is not how I understood the changes to apply. Continue reading “Bishop of Chester asks for clarification from Government over civil partnership and inheritance tax”

Archbishop of Canterbury responds to Government statement on Syrian refugees

On the 7th September 2015 the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, responded to the Prime Minister’s statement about Syrian refugees and counter-terrorism, which had been repeated in the House of Lords by Baroness Stowell.

Archbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury: I warmly welcome this start in the response of domestic hospitality, which comes in addition to the very considerable work that we have done overseas through the overseas aid budget and the work of the Royal Navy. It is on that basis that, challenged by this, the churches, starting this morning, are working urgently to add to what they have already been doing locally, and to work together to achieve and support a coherent, compassionate and credible public policy.

Continue reading “Archbishop of Canterbury responds to Government statement on Syrian refugees”

Bishop of St Albans asks government about support for not-for-profit debt management advice services

On the 7th September 2015 Lord Sharkey asked the Government ‘what assessment they have made of the thematic review Quality of Debt Management Advice published by the Financial Conduct Authority in June 2015′. The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith asked a supplementary question.

Bishop St Albans June 2015The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, given that the FCA report discovered that not-for-profit organisations were better at giving impartial debt advice, will the Minister tell us what plans Her Majesty’s Government have to ensure that those organisations have sufficient funding to be able to offer that service to the 8.8 million people in the UK who are in need of debt management advice? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks government about support for not-for-profit debt management advice services”

Bishop of Peterborough asks Government about support for disabled children at risk of sexual exploitation

On the 7th September 2015 Baroness Benjamin asked the Government ‘what steps they are taking to protect children with learning difficulties and disabilities from sexual exploitation.’ The Bishop of Peterborough the Rt Revd. Donald Allister asked a supplementary question regarding increasing therapeutic support for children at risk.

14.02 PeterboroughThe Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, given that abused children often do not show symptoms for some years, and that children with learning disabilities tend to show symptoms in different ways that are not as easily recognised, does the Minister agree that all children who are subject to sexual harm prevention orders or sexual risk orders should receive assessment of their needs and therapeutic support even before signs or symptoms are shown?

Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough asks Government about support for disabled children at risk of sexual exploitation”

Bishop of St Albans asks government about plans for a national living wage

On 3rd August 2015 the Bishop oBishop St Albans June 2015f St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to written questions on the government’s plans for a National Living Wage, and on the income pressures faced by young people:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to bring the National Living Wage in line with the rate recommended by the Living Wage Foundation by incorporating adjustments for cost of living and support received through tax credits. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks government about plans for a national living wage”

Bishop of St Albans raises case of journalists detained by Egyptian authorities

On 29th July 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question to HM Government about the cases of Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, on trial in Egypt. Amnesty International is campaigning for their release. 

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Egypt on behalf of Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans raises case of journalists detained by Egyptian authorities”

Church of England Week in Westminster 20th-24th July 2015

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

Westminster-abbeyIn the last week before Parliament rose for the summer recess, bishops in the House of Lords spoke in response to the Budget and on the Mediterranean migrant situation. They also asked questions on payday loan advertising, fixed odds betting terminals and the role of arts in education. Both the House of Commons and House of Lords will return in September.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 20th-24th July 2015”

Bishop of St Albans raises gambling addiction and social problems of fixed-odds betting terminals

Bishop St Albans June 2015On 22nd, 23rd & 24th July 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to written questions on the scale of gambling addiction in Greater London and fixed-odds betting terminals:

Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the research undertaken by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling into the social problems caused by fixed-odds betting terminals. [HL1485]

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans raises gambling addiction and social problems of fixed-odds betting terminals”

Forced marriage – Bishop of St Albans asks Government about scale of problem

On 24th July 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to three written questions on forced marriage.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cases the Forced Marriage Unit was involved in, or gave support and advice to, in 2014. Continue reading “Forced marriage – Bishop of St Albans asks Government about scale of problem”

Bishop of Peterborough speaks on our duty to help the persecuted and dispossessed

 

“Welcoming the persecuted and the dispossessed is a duty for civilised nations—I would argue that it is a Christian duty—and in the long term it is good for the host nation, as well as for those fleeing for their lives” – Bishop of Peterborough, 22/7/15

14.02 PeterboroughOn the 22nd July 2015 the Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister, spoke in a debate on the relocation of  Mediterranean migrants within the EU. The Bishop spoke of our duty as a nation to help the persecuted and dispossessed, alongside addressing the root causes through aid, diplomacy and other appropriate means.

 

The Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, like other speakers, I am grateful for this debate and particularly grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Prashar, and her colleagues for this excellent, moving and powerful report.

Of course, there are no easy answers to this dilemma, and I do not pretend that there are. I fully accept that any further help that we offer these poor disrupted people should be on a voluntary basis.Generosity and hospitality are important but cannot be mandated. On the other hand, as relatively wealthy members of the family of nations and of the European Union, we have a duty to help the persecuted and dispossessed, and to offer support to poorer European partners who find themselves under severe pressure. I stress that this is not easy. Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough speaks on our duty to help the persecuted and dispossessed”