Bishop of Derby calls for generous support for interpreters working in conflict zones

On 18th March 2015 the Bishop of Derby, Rt Rev Alastair Redfern, spoke in a debate on the protection of interpreters and translators working in conflict zones. His speech is below, along with the final section of the Minister’s response.

DerbyThe Lord Bishop of Derby: I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady Coussins, for securing this debate and for introducing it so helpfully. It seems to me that interpreters are like priests; they are mediators and help connect cultures and communities. In this case, they helped campaigns unfold properly and as planned. It is a key role. As we have heard, especially from the noble Lord, Lord Ashdown, it is a very risky role, on the front line in every sense, and we must be thankful for the courage and commitment of those who sign up for it.

Continue reading “Bishop of Derby calls for generous support for interpreters working in conflict zones”

Bishop of Rochester presses government to work for acess to justice for all

On 18th March 2015 the Bishop of Rochester, Rt Rev James Langstaff, asked a question in the House of Lords on the Government’s response to a report on access to justice. He followed it with a supplementary question to the Minister. Those exchanges, along with a transcript of all subsequent questions on the same by Peers, are below.

TBishop of Rochesterhe Lord Bishop of Rochester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take in response to the recommendations of the recently published Theos report Speaking Up.

Lord Faulks (Minister of State, Ministry of Justice): My Lords, the Government have noted the Theos report. We carefully considered the matters raised in it, including access to justice, when developing our policy on legal aid reform. The Government have already committed to a review of the impact of the LASPO Act three to five years after implementation. Even after reform, our legal aid system will remain one of the most expensive in the world at £1.5 billion per year. Continue reading “Bishop of Rochester presses government to work for acess to justice for all”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about help for Syrian and Iraqi refugees

On 17th March 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received three written answers to questions of Government about assistance to civilians displaced by conflict in Syria and Iraq:
Syria
Bishop of St Albans
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial and other support has been given, or will be given, to the governments of Lebanon and Jordan to ensure they can keep their borders open for Syrian refugees fleeing the conflict in that country.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about help for Syrian and Iraqi refugees”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government if they have plans to increase the public forest estate

On 17th March 2015 Baroness Royall of Blaisdon asked Her Majesty’s Government “what steps they are taking to protect the Forestry Commission’s stake in Forest Holidays and to ensure that in the event of a sale by the majority shareholder they would not lose all management control of any future development.” The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, the Forestry Commission in England is to be congratulated on the significant rise in the number of people visiting our public forest estates, not least as it is against the background of a recent report which suggests that the number of people visiting rural areas has slightly declined. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government if they have plans to increase the public forest estate”

Bishop of Peterborough backs plain packaging for cigarettes

“It is our duty and responsibility in this place to care for what we in the church call the “common good”—to care for the well-being of society and, not least, of young people.”- Bishop of Peterborough, 16/3/15

On 16th March the Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Donald Allister, spoke in a debate on the motion to approve the ‘Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015’, to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes. The Bishop argued that the measure is necessary to safeguard the health of young people in the UK. The motion to approve the Regulations was passed.

14.02 PeterboroughThe Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, I, too, was not planning to speak, but I am most grateful to the Minister for bringing this measure before us. I will make a very simple point. Packaging is designed to make the contents of the package attractive. This is about changing culture and changing the way that people think about tobacco and smoking. We all know the health arguments—they are indisputable and very clear. However, many young people, in particular, are still led astray and into dangerous behaviour—into self-harming of a very subtle but difficult sort.

Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough backs plain packaging for cigarettes”

Bishop of St Albans – food security and Syria (Written Answers)

On Monday 16th March 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to two written questions on (i) food security, and (ii) the future of displaced Syrians.

Bishop of St AlbansFood Security

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent research from the National Farmers’ Union on the decline in food production in the United Kingdom and its impact on food security.

Lord de Mauley (Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs):This Government is committed to helping UK food producers thrive and expand. We are working with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and others to support a competitive UK farming industry, including through our £160 million investment in applied research under the agri-tech strategy, as well as the new Rural Development Programme for England, which includes £141 million dedicated to improving agricultural productivity.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans – food security and Syria (Written Answers)”

Prayers at Council Meetings – Bishop of Leicester speaks in support of Bill in the Lords

On 13th March 2015 the House of Lords debated the Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill from Jake Berry MP, sponsored in the Lords by Lord Cormack.

The Bill, which has already completed its passage through the House of Commons, would “make provision about the inclusion at local authority meetings of observances that are, and about powers of local authorities in relation to events that to any extent are, religious or related to a religious or philosophical belief.” 

The Bishop of Leicester, Rt Rev Tim Stevens, spoke in support of the Bill during a debate on a series of amendments to it, tabled by opponents. The Bill passed through Committee unamended.

ThLeicestere Lord Bishop of Leicester: My Lords, perhaps I should declare an interest, having just led the Prayers in this Chamber. Continue reading “Prayers at Council Meetings – Bishop of Leicester speaks in support of Bill in the Lords”

Church of England Week in Westminster, 9th – 13th March 2015

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

Westminster-abbey

This week, the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill successfully completed its passage through Parliament and will shortly receive Royal Assent.

Bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on credit & debt, the 70th anniversary of the Dresden bombing, and young people leaving foster care.

The bishops also asked questions on humanitarian aid in Iraq, homelessness, company pay, personal independence payments, Syrian refugees and the treatment of non-EU migrants.

Bishops took part in divisions on the Government’s Small Business and Enterprise Bill.

In the House of Commons the final question and answer session of this Parliament took place with the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry MP, who was thanked for his service to the House.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 9th – 13th March 2015”

Bishop of Coventry leads Lords debate on the 70th Anniversary of the Dresden Bombing

“I hope that we will be ready to proclaim afresh to the world that the story of our nations over the last 70 years proves that peace is possible and that friendship is better than enmity” – Bishop of Coventry 12/3/15

On 12th March 2015 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, led a debate in the House of Lords on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Dresden. His opening speech can be seen below, along with the Minister’s response. The speeches of other members in the debate can be viewed on the UK Parliament website, here.

13.10 Bishop of Coventry

Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry leads Lords debate on the 70th Anniversary of the Dresden Bombing”

Bishop of Leicester speaks about challenges facing young people leaving foster care

“We know that transitioning to adulthood is challenging and demanding for all young people today, but how much more so for care leavers” – Bishop of Leicester, 12/3/15.

On 12th March 2015 the Bishop of Leicester, Rt Rev Tim Stevens, spoke in a debate tabled by Baroness Eaton, “to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to help young care leavers not able to “stay put” in foster care to make a successful transition to independence.”

Leicester Continue reading “Bishop of Leicester speaks about challenges facing young people leaving foster care”