On 18th March 2026, the House of Lords debated the Crime and Policing Bill, including amendments on protest, terrorism, and abortion. Bishops took part on votes on several amendments:
Votes: Crime and Policing Bill
Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about role of faith in urban regeneration
The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on the role of churches in urban renewal during a discussion on regeneration of high streets and town centres on 18th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, although the 10-year Pride in Place funding is a welcome step towards longer-term investment, and there are other funds available for town centre regeneration, some towns in Nottinghamshire, such as Mansfield and Newark, continue to face increasing vacancy rates, declining footfall and concerns about safety in the town centres. What assessment have the Government made of the role of churches and other community groups using vacant shops to set up services that create social capital locally? Will the Minister reassure the House that faith communities and charities are enabled to apply for the various funds?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about role of faith in urban regeneration”Bishop of Chelmsford asks about US military actions in Iran
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 18th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:
- what steps they are taking to prioritise the safety of UK nationals, diplomats and military personnel in the Middle East, including their safe passage out of the region. Hansard
- what steps they are taking to work with regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Turkey, to encourage the United States of America and Iran to find a diplomatic solution to war. Hansard
- what assessment they have made of the diplomatic progress made in the negotiations between the United States of America and Iran before the start of US military action against Iran. Hansard
- what assessment they have made of the compliance of military action by the United States of America against Iran with Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter. Hansard
- what representations they have made to the government of the United States about the limitations and risks of military action in Iran. Hansard
- what assessment they have made of the impact of military action by the United States against Iran on the level of military assistance to Ukraine. Hansard
- what is their response to civilian casualties in Iran caused by the military action by the United States and Israel; and what steps they are taking to support Iranian people by providing aid and continued access to information channels. Hansard
- what assessment they have made of the potential for an increase in refugees from Iran; and what steps they are taking to establish safe and legal routes, and humanitarian assistance, to those seeking to leave Iran. Hansard
Bishop of Chelmsford asks about making housing available
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 18th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government whether they plan for a proportion of their 1.5 million homes target to be met by bringing empty homes back into use.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about making housing available”Bishop of Manchester asks about access to healthcare in rural areas
The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on access to GP services in rural areas during a discussion on a Commons Urgent Question on the GP Contract on 17th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, the Statement made in the other place refers explicitly to coastal areas and deprived places, and I welcome that. Will the Minister say something about how we can ensure that there is good access to GP services in rural areas?
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about access to healthcare in rural areas”Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about BBC World Service
The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on the role of the BBC World Service in faith education, during a discussion on the sustainability of the service on 17th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, the World Service has been particularly effective at communicating issues of faith and freedom of religion, and, notably, at addressing misinformation during times of global conflict. In the light of the increasing importance of this, what steps are the Government taking to ensure that it is well placed to play an increasing educative role in the understanding of faith?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about BBC World Service”Votes: Pension Schemes Bill
On 16th March 2026, the House of Lords debated the Pension Schemes Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:
Bishop of Manchester asks about tackling antisemitism on university campuses
The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the roles of external actors in fuelling antisemitism on university campuses, and the role of university chaplaincy teams in addressing this, on 16th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, this has been a significant issue in Manchester for all my time as Bishop and I am glad we are having this chance to consider it. What assessment is being made of the extent to which external actors—we have heard about university lecturers, but maybe even foreign Governments—are fuelling this? To what extent can the multifaith chaplaincy teams that many of our universities have be part of the means of addressing it?
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about tackling antisemitism on university campuses”Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about changes to wedding celebrant law
The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asked a question on the issues associated with commercial wedding celebrants during a discussion on the legalisation of humanist weddings on 16th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: My Lords, I welcome the Government’s intention to make it easier for couples to marry in legally binding ceremonies that reflect their religious, or non-religious, beliefs. However, I am concerned by the potential direction of travel of some aspects of these reforms, particularly the possible authorisation of this new category of commercial celebrants, which the Minister has referred to. I understand that, as has already been acknowledged, Humanists UK shares this concern. Can the Minister set out how the Government will ensure that safeguards are in place to protect against the commercialisation of weddings?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham asks about changes to wedding celebrant law”Bishop of Chelmsford asks about government housing targets
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 16th March 2026:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of labour shortages, planning and regulatory rules, and any viability challenges, on the delivery of their target to build 1.5 million homes.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about government housing targets”
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