Bishop of Lichfield asks about reducing homelessness among prison-leavers

On 21st January 2025, the Bishop of Lichfield asked a question on reducing rates of homelessness among prison-leavers:

The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: My Lords, according to data from the Ministry of Justice, the proportion of all prison leavers who were released homeless in 2023-24 was 13%. Considering that people are 50% more likely to re-offend if they are homeless, what steps are the Government taking to reduce rates of homelessness among prison leavers?

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about alcohol related deaths

The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answer on 21st January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of data published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on 3 December 2024 showing that the number of alcohol-specific deaths in England in 2023 was the highest on record; and what steps are they taking to reduce this number, particularly in the region of the North East region.

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Bishop of Sheffield speaks in debate on housing of asylum seekers in hotels

The Bishop of Sheffield spoke in a debate on government policy on housing asylum seekers in hotels on 20th January 2025, raising instances from his own diocese, the need for better integration of asylum seekers into communities, and the cost of hotel accommodation:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, I declare an interest as the patron of the charity ASSIST Sheffield. In the interests of time, I will limit my remarks to three key points.

First, there is the question of safety. One of the communities I serve as the Bishop of Sheffield is Rotherham. Noble Lords may recall how, in August last year, a group of asylum seekers living at the Holiday Inn in Manvers were deliberately targeted, in an incident that led to criminal convictions for over 60 men. The following month, at the request of the Mayor of South Yorkshire, I arranged for one of the churches in Sheffield, Christ Church Fulwood, to offer sanctuary for the day, free of charge, to a group of asylum seekers because there were fears that their hotel could be subject to a similar attack. Quite simply, it subjects asylum seekers to danger if they are placed in hotels in visible numbers. Dispersed accommodation offers greater protection and, for that reason, we should move to that provision as swiftly as possible.

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Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asks about ensuring proper safeguarding in faith and community spaces

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asked a question on ensuring the safety of community spaces on 20th January 2025, in response to a government statement on investigations into child sexual exploitation and abuse:

The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich: My Lords, I also pay tribute to victims and survivors in this regard, recognising that the failure to respond perpetuates and prolongs their suffering, and recognising—as noble Lords will all know—that the Church of England is facing significant challenges in putting its own house in order in that regard. I want to ask, therefore, a wider question on faith communities, all of which provide places of gathering and moral and social influence, and all of which strive to make those places as safe as possible. What conversations are continuing with leaders of faith communities to support them in that vital work?

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Bishop of London asks about respite care options

The Bishop of London received the following written answer on 20th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of London asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what assessment they have made of the availability of respite care for adults with complex needs following the closure of the charity Revitalise at the end of November 2024.
  • what assessment they have made of the respite care options for adults with complex needs, including for holiday breaks.
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Bishop of St Albans asks about role of inland waterways in biodiversity, decarbonisation, and climate adaptation

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th January 2025:

The Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Canal & River Trust Our Climate and Adaptation Report, published in December 2024; in particular, the roles that canals could play in (1) biodiversity, (2) decarbonisation, and (3) climate adaptation.

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Bishop of Sheffield asks about efforts to alleviate fuel poverty

The Bishop of Sheffield received the following written answer on 2oth January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield asked  His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to alleviate fuel poverty this winter, including (1) support for local government, and (2) community-led initiatives.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about driving under the influence of drugs

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government how many convictions there were for those caught driving whilst under the influence of drugs in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, (4) 2022, (5) 2023, and (6) 2024.

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Universal Credit (Standard Allowance Entitlement of Care Leavers) Bill: Bishop of Derby stresses need to listen to care leavers concerns

The Bishop of Derby spoke in support of the Bishop of Manchester’s private member’s bill on 17th January 2025, stressing the need to listen to care leavers and to take their concerns seriously:

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I congratulate my right reverend friend the Bishop of Manchester on bringing this Private Member’s Bill. I declare my interest as chair of the Children’s Society—a charity rooted in the Church of England and a key partner in the Church’s work to support care-experienced children and young people. I therefore welcome this Bill for the difference that it would make to care leavers.

As mentioned, last week we were privileged to hear directly from care leavers. I pay tribute to their resilience and I know that they are listening closely today. Their testimony reinforces my support for the Bill.

Three recurring themes emerge from our conversation: vulnerability, inconsistency and disempowerment. First, too many young people are made profoundly vulnerable as they leave care without a sufficient safety net around them. A recent survey by the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum found that 82% of care leavers struggled to afford food some or all the time.

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Universal Credit (Standard Allowance Entitlement of Care Leavers) Bill: Bishop of Manchester introduces private member’s bill

The Bishop of Manchester’s private members bill, the Universal Credit (Standard Allowance Entitlement of Care Leavers) Bill, had its second reading on 17th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, care leavers under the age of 25 who are claiming universal credit receive the same rate as their peers, who are far more likely to be able to access support from their parents. That means that young people under 25 receive £81.77 less in universal credit per month compared to those over 25—a 21% reduction. This Bill would complement proposals by providing increased financial support for care leavers currently living on the lowest incomes. It would mean that care leavers claiming universal credit would see their monthly payment increase to a total of £393.45. That monthly figure is not dissimilar to the daily allowance that Members of your Lordships’ House can claim; it is not a huge sum to live on.

I thank those who have made time to participate in this debate on a Friday—not least the Minister and shadow Minister, with whom we had constructive conversations in advance—and the group of care-experienced young people, facilitated by the charity Become, who were very generous with their time and shared some extremely perceptive insights with me and my right reverend friend the Bishop of Derby about the differences that this policy change would make to their lives. They have agreed that we can name them in our speeches today.

There are over 92,000 care leavers in England under the age of 25. This cohort of young adults is in particular need of further support, including through the social security system. This Bill would equalise the standard allowance for universal credit for care leavers under the age of 25, but that is just one of a number of steps that could be made to ensure that young care leavers receive the support they need to flourish. I hope that, in this debate, there will be an opportunity for noble Lords to explore those, and perhaps other, steps and for us to commit ourselves to supporting young adults leaving care.

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