The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to provide aid to Christian communities in Nigeria facing persecution and violence.
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The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln: His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the two-child limit on child poverty levels since it was introduced in 2017; and what steps the Child Poverty Taskforce is taking to address this impact.
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The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 6th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of research led by Dr Mary Abed Al Ahad of the University of St Andrews showing that people exposed to high levels of pollution are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and psychosis; and whether they plan to reduce pollution in cities as a result.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about air pollution and mental health”On 19th December 2024, the Bishop of Guildford spoke in a debate on human rights in China, highlighting the situation of the Uighur Muslims and urging the government to introduce safeguards to combat modern slavery in the supply chain:
The Lord Bishop of Guildford: My Lords, as the grandson of former medical missionaries in south-west China, I take great interest in this debate. As others have expressed, I am really grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Alton, for his remarkable and indefatigable commitment to human rights and freedom of religion or belief all around the world. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad—it is a privilege to speak after him—for his huge commitment in this area over many years.
I share with my forebears a deep respect for the Chinese people, their culture, their discipline and their character, but I have been horrified by stories of the oppression and maltreatment of religious minorities and critics of the regime over very many years. I have paid several illuminating visits to China to witness that for myself. This afternoon, like others, I wish to highlight the desperate situation of Uighur Muslims in the north-western region of Xinjiang, whom the other place has declared as being subject to genocide. Specifically, I urge His Majesty’s Government to ensure that the screening of goods made in forced labour camps—everything from solar panels to tomatoes—prevents them being imported into this country.
Continue reading “Bishop of Guildford highlights issues of modern slavery and repression in China”The Bishop of Winchester spoke in a debate on human rights in China on 19th December 2024, empathising the importance of a religiously and culturally informed approach towards China:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: I am very grateful to my friend, the noble Lord, Lord Alton of Liverpool, for securing this vital and urgent debate. I congratulate him on his election as chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. There is no one better qualified to fulfil that role.
If we are to understand China from the perspective of human rights, security or trade, or indeed from any other perspective, we must see the country in its own terms and as it sees itself rather than simply through western lenses. To understand China as she understands herself, it will not do to look at her in terms of Marxism or indeed Maoism. If once it was said of the Labour Party that it was more Methodist than Marxist, it can be fairly said of the Chinese Communist Party that it is at least as Confucianist as it is communist. At the heart of China’s concept of itself lies the concept of tianxia, a word that means “all under heaven”—and that I almost certainly mispronounce. Even in those three words, you can grasp a sense of its import. It is an ancient concept, dating at least to the start of the first millennium BC, describing a system of relations across Asia, with China as the centre of the civilised world and the apex of culture, the heart of a sage empire, spreading material benefits and wisdom to all mankind—a geopolitical system with China at the centre and the Emperor at the centre of the centre.
Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester speaks in debate on human rights in China”The Bishop of Winchester asked a question on Freedom of Religion and Belief in Syria on 19th December 2024, following a government statement on the recent regime change in the country:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester: I am very grateful to the Minister for repeating the Statement. I particularly welcome what he said about the appointment of a Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and what he said about north-east Syria. Forgive me for returning to that subject, given the reassurances he has given, but the semi-autonomous region of north-east Syria is an oasis of plurality in the region, where freedom of religion or belief is respected and women take a leading role in governance. It provides an exemplar for the whole region, yet it is under significant pressure from repressive forces supported by our NATO ally, Turkey. I believe that this is an asymmetric aggression, so can the Minister please assure the House that the UK will continue, along with other NATO allies, to bring pressure to bear on Turkey to desist from its destabilising activities in the region?
Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks abut freedom of religion in Syria”The Bishop of St Albans led a debate on the importance of growing the rural economy on 19th December 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I am grateful to all those who have signed up to speak in this debate on growing the rural economy, not least because of the breadth of experience and knowledge that is represented in your Lordships’ House which we will be drawing on today. In doing so, I declare my interest as president of the Rural Coalition and as a vice-president of the Local Government Association.
Many people dream of moving into the countryside because of the quality of life that it can offer. I think of the strength of rural communities, the high levels of social capital and the way that people support one another—no wonder it is attractive. We in the Church of England are glad to play our part in that: we are at the heart of many of our rural communities across the country, wanting to contribute to their flourishing and thriving.
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On 19th December 2024, the Bishop of Guildford tabled a question on government efforts to regulate homeschooling following the murder of Sara Sharif:
The Lord Bishop of Guildford: To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the rules on home schooling in the light of the murder of Sara Sharif.
Continue reading “Bishop of Guildford tables question on homeschooling regulations”The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on safety concerns relating to scooters and e-bikes on 19th December 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, with reports of deaths on the pavements from e-bikes and e-scooters, there is a lot of worry about safety, particularly for those who are disabled or partially sighted. Can the Minister assure us that, when the consultations go ahead, charities working with people in such situations will be consulted, so that we can make sure we are offering them the maximum protection on our pavements and streets?
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