Bishop of St Albans asks Government about progress made at UN Climate Change Conference

On 7th January 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith, asked an oral question of Government about the recent UN Climate Change Conference. The exchanges, including supplementary questions from Peers, are below:

Climate Change: UN Conference

Question

Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans

Bishop of St Albans

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the agreement reached at the United Nations climate change conference in Lima in December 2014. Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about progress made at UN Climate Change Conference”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about action on tackling FGM

On 6th January 2015 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith, received written answers to five questions of Government on female genital mutilation (or FGM):

Female Genital Mutilation

Question

Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans

Bishop of St Albans

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are resourcing the provision of training and education in communities in the United Kingdom in which female genital mutilation is practised.[HL3454] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about action on tackling FGM”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about air pollution and asthma

On 6th January 2015 Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty’s Government ‘what plans the National Health Service has to reduce the number of premature deaths caused by the combined impact of nitrogen dioxide and fine particles emitted by diesel engines’. The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith, asked a supplementary question:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, with 4.3 million adults and 1.1 million children suffering from the effects of asthma-related conditions, does the Minister agree that we need to look closely at the World Health Organization’s recent news that an increasing number of British cities are now breaching the safe air pollution levels? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about air pollution and asthma”

Make 2015 a year of action on development and climate change, Bishop of Birmingham urges

The following letter, co-signed by the Bishop of Birmingham and leaders of other faiths, appeared in The Times newspaper on 6th January 2015:

A year for progress

Sir, This year will provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity: in September world leaders decide on new goals for sustainable development and in December a new climate treaty.

Continue reading “Make 2015 a year of action on development and climate change, Bishop of Birmingham urges”

The Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill

The Government introduced the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill in the House of Commons on Thursday 18th December 2014. Information on the Bill and links to statements on its introduction are below.Red Benches Continue reading “The Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill”

Church of England Week in Westminster 15th-19th December 2014

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 Government’s Social Action, Responsibility & Heroism Bill and asked questions  on Higher Education, abortion and dog licensing. They also received written answers to questions on under-age marriage, violence against women, prostitution and drink-driving. In the House of Commons MPs congratulated Rev Libby Lane on her appointment as the new Bishop of Stockport. The Second Church Estates Commissioner also welcomed the introduction of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill by Government, aimed at expediting the arrival of the first female diocesan bishops to the House of Lords.

Parliament has now risen for the Christmas recess and will return on 5th January (Lords on the 6th). Continue reading “Church of England Week in Westminster 15th-19th December 2014”

MPs welcome the news of the Church of England’s first female bishop

On Wednesday 17th December 2014 it was announced by Downing Street that the Rev Libby Lane had been nominated to be the next Bishop of Stockport, making her the first woman to be appointed as a bishop in the Church of England. MPs joined those across the country in offering their congratulations. Continue reading “MPs welcome the news of the Church of England’s first female bishop”

Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill welcomed in the Commons

At Questions to the Leader of the House of Commons on 18th December 2014, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Sir Tony Baldry MP, welcomed the introduction by Government of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill:

14.01 CCQ BaldrySir Tony Baldry (Banbury) (Con): May I welcome the publication today of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill, which will provide the opportunity to fast-track into the House of Lords women consecrated as diocesan bishops? Continue reading “Lords Spiritual (Women) Bill welcomed in the Commons”

Drink driving – questions from the Bishop of St Albans

On 17th December 2014, the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith received answers to two written questions, on lowering the drink-drive limit:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to lower the legal blood-alcohol limit for driving from 80mg to 50mg in every 100ml of blood.[HL3742] Continue reading “Drink driving – questions from the Bishop of St Albans”

Bishop of St Albans asks Government about criminalising purchase of sex

On 17th December 2014 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Rev Alan Smith, received a written answer to a question on criminalising the purchase of sex:

Bishop of St AlbansThe Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to criminalising the purchase of sex in order to protect vulnerable women.[HL3283] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about criminalising purchase of sex”