Bishop of St Albans asks questions on homelessness and the Somerset Rivers Authority

On 2nd March 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to written questions on the Somerset Rivers Authority and homelessness.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to ensure that the legislative process of making the Somerset Rivers Authority a precepting body progresses in order for it to be established by April 2016.

Lord De Mauley (Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs): The Somerset Rivers Authority, Defra and the Department for Communities and Local Government are currently undertaking a review to identify a long-term, local funding solution for the Somerset Rivers Authority from 2016/17.

The review will look into all possible funding options and how they could be implemented.

(Via Parliament.uk)

Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review their policies and resources which support relationships, in the light of recent research by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Salvation Army which suggests that relationship breakdown is the most common cause of homelessness.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Communities and Local Government): This Government has increased spending to prevent homelessness, making over £500 million available to help the most vulnerable in society and have kept strong protections to guard families against the threat of homelessness. As part of this funding we have maintained investment in local authority homelessness prevention services, providing £320 million since 2010/11 which has helped local authorities to prevent over 730,000 cases of homelessness. Almost 38,000 of these were helped to stay in their home through mediation and conciliation schemes.

Church of England Week in Westminster, 23rd – 27th February 2015

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

Westminster-abbeyThis week, bishops in the House of Lords took part in debates on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations, the Modern Slavery Bill, the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill and a debate on improvements to mental health services.

The Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill received its Committee stage. No amendments were proposed by Peers, and the Bill will now proceed to its Third Reading.

The bishops also asked questions on Syrian refugees, Broadband access for rural schools, victims of violence detained at Yarl’s Wood, freedom of religion in India, Gaza, library closures and security in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Bishops took part in divisions on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations, the Modern Slavery Bill and International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill.

Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster, 23rd – 27th February 2015”

Divisions – International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill

On 26th February 2015, bishops took part in three divisions on the Government’s International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill, The Bill proposes to enshrine in Law the commitment to spend 0.7% of UK GDI on International Development. 

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

Continue reading “Divisions – International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill”

Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill – Lords Committee and Report Stages

On 26th February 2015 the House of Lords considered the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill in Committee. Continue reading “Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill – Lords Committee and Report Stages”

Archbishop of Canterbury calls for voice of refugees to be heard in Syrian peace negotiations

On 26th February 2015, Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty’s Government what measures they and the host states are planning to prevent Syrian refugees becoming permanent residents in those states. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, asked a supplementary question: 
Archbishop of CanterburyThe Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, given that, as the Minister will be aware, peace agreements in this area have been done to the people, from Sykes-Picot nearly 100 years ago onwards, what contacts are the Government making with those who are in the camps and need to have a voice in the peace settlement, and in particular with women’s groups?

Baroness Northover: The most reverend Primate is right to highlight this. There is constant contact with those in the camps, to try to engage them in moving things forward. With regard to support for women and girls, we are acutely aware of how vulnerable they are, and we have a number of programmes to help support them. As he will probably know, we are very concerned about early marriage and so on, and those who are particularly vulnerable to that. We are trying to ensure that we link up to support those girls so that that does not happen, and seeking out leaders to help protect girls and women more widely.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of St Albans – Libraries (Written Answer)

On 26th February 2015, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, received an answer to a written question on library closures in the UK.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of library closures on educational standards across the United Kingdom.[HL5085]

Baroness Jolly (Government Whip): The DCMS has not made any assessment of the impact of library closures on educational standards across the United Kingdom. Every Library Authority has a duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.

(via Parliament.uk)

Bishop of Worcester – Russia and Eastern Europe (Written Answers)

On 26th February 2015, the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd John Inge, received answers to two written questions, on the subject of security in Russia and Eastern Europe.

WorcesterThe Lord Bishop of Worcester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, as a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to bring about renewed discussions with Russia on a possible Euro-Atlantic security community. [HL5013]  Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester – Russia and Eastern Europe (Written Answers)”

Divisions – Modern Slavery Bill

On 23rd and 25th February 2015, bishops took part in two divisions on the Government’s Modern Slavery Bill, relating to the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner and the protection of overseas domestic workers.

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

Continue reading “Divisions – Modern Slavery Bill”

Bishop of Derby leads call for stronger powers for agencies tackling modern slavery

On 25th February 2015, the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, tabled an amendment to the Government’s Modern Slavery Bill, during its Report Stage. The amendment sought to strengthen and improve the resources of enforcement agencies who may be required to deal with groups engaged in modern slavery and human trafficking. The amendment was withdrawn, following assurances from the Minister that the Government would bring forward its own proposals at Third Reading.

The Bishop also spoke in favour of a group of amendments to the Bill relating to the transparency of supply chains. 

Amendment 92 – Enforcement Agencies

DerbyThe Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I thank my colleagues, the noble Lord, Lord Alton, and the noble Baroness, Lady Kennedy, for their support for this amendment. I also place on record my thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Bates. With others, we have been extremely grateful for the patient and kind way he has listened to us, engaged with us and put on special meetings on various subjects. The point of this amendment is to highlight the fact that both the Government and many of us involved in this issue are learning a great deal as we go along. Therefore, there is a proper space for consultation, review and further learning to be done. Continue reading “Bishop of Derby leads call for stronger powers for agencies tackling modern slavery”

Bishop of St Albans speaks in debate on mental health services

On 25th February 2105, the Earl of Listowel led a short debate in the House of Lords, to ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve mental health services for infants, children and young people, for care leavers, and for adults with care experience. The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Alan Smith, spoke in the debate, focusing his remarks on the risk of suicide amongst young people suffering from mental health issues.

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, the terrible reality of the effects of mental health could not have been more powerfully illustrated than by the story reported in the press last week of 18 year-old Edward Mallen. He was not one of “those unfortunates”—he had 12 A* GCSEs and was predicted to achieve three A* A-levels; he had got grade 8 piano and a place at Girton to read geography—but he rapidly descended, over quite a short time, into depression and died under a train. Not only is it an affront to think of that young life, with all its potential and opportunities, suddenly being lost with his death, but the scars will stay with all the members of his family for the rest of their lives. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans speaks in debate on mental health services”