The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 25th November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 14 October (HL Deb cols 17GC–20GC), when they intend to publish the terms of reference for the Home Office review into immigration detention, including Rule 34 and 35 of the detention centre rules.
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The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 25th November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to changing the statutory definition of domestic abuse to that those under the age of 16 can be considered victims of domestic abuse.
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The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich received the following written answer on 22nd November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asked His Majesty’s Government whether the appointment of the independent Armed Forces Commissioner for the UK will take place this year.
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On 22nd November 2024, Marsha De Cordova MP, on behalf of the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:
Church Commissioners: Charities
Danny Kruger MP (Con, East Wiltshire): To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what the (a) charitable object and (b) nominal current value is of each (i) trust and (ii) other fund held by the Church Commissioners; and what document defines each such charitable object.
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The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 22nd November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln asked His Majesty’s Government how the Child Poverty Strategy intends to reduce child poverty in rural and coastal communities.
Baroness Sherlock (Lab, DWP): We are committed to delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty which is why we have set up a Ministerial Taskforce that is urgently working to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in Spring 2025.
Continue reading “Bishop of Lincoln asks about child poverty strategy”The Bishop of St Albans spoke in a debate on the continuity of farming families on 21st November 2024, highlighting the levels of stress among farmers and the need to reconcile raising revenue with supporting farming communities:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I too congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Northover, on securing this debate. I declare my interests as president of the Rural Coalition and a vice-president of the LGA. I am a farmer’s son, and one of the great privileges of my job serving in a diocese that covers Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire is going into some of the most wonderful, forward-looking and innovative farms in this country, which are at the forefront of farming across Europe.
Even though there are many successful, go-ahead farmers, there is nevertheless a huge level of mental stress among them. That has been true for many years. Sadly, there is an extraordinarily high number of suicides among the farming community. As one elderly farmer put it, “Many of us are feeling so depressed because these announcements suggest that we are not wanted and are worth more dead than alive”. He pointed out that if he manages to die before April 2026, his assets will be passed on; if he does not, the farm will probably not survive.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans speaks in support of farming families and communities”On 21st November 2024, the Bishop of Chichester spoke in a debate on a report from the European Affairs Committee – The Ukraine Effect: The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the UK-EU relationship, focusing on the importance of reconstruction and the place of the church in Ukraine:
The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, it is a privilege not only to speak in this debate, which touches on a matter of such great importance, but to be reminded, in the valedictory speech of the noble Lord, Lord Levene, of what a resource of wise experience and courtesy exists in this House.
I am very grateful for the work of the European Affairs Committee in its report, and to the noble Lord, Lord Ricketts, for this debate. I am glad to follow the noble Lord, Lord Banner, and the positive statements he made about reconstruction. It is on that subject that I will focus my contribution. Reconstruction must look at economy, buildings, infrastructure and the fabric of society, but I hope it will also look at something distinctive about Ukraine, which is the place of the church. In talking about people and not parliamentarians, the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter, already reminded us of that. The noble Baroness, Lady Nicholson, made similar comments about the neighbours of Ukraine who have given assistance. In large part, monasteries and nunneries will also be an extension of the familiarity of a Christian tradition that is so important in Ukraine.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chichester stresses importance of reconstruction in Ukraine”On 21st November 2024, the Bishop of Manchester asked a question on government commitment to working with faith leaders to tackle the climate emergency:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, last year I took a group of leaders from different faiths in Greater Manchester, along with civic leaders, to meet Pope Francis in Rome to discuss his work on climate change, which makes me think: will the Government commit to working with faith leaders, in this country and overseas, as we seek to mitigate the climate emergency?
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about role of faith leaders in tackling climate change”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of cases of bluetongue in Hertfordshire.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab, DEFRA): Defra acted quickly to contain bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) when the first case this season was detected on 26 August, implementing zones with movement controls on susceptible livestock to prevent spread. Disease control restrictions have been adapted in response to new findings and there is now a single restricted zone (RZ) covering the east coast and some inland areas in England, including Hertfordshire where there have been 3 cases to date.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about cases of livestock sickness”On 21st November 2024, the Bishop of Chichester asked a question on the impact of the introduction of Martyn’s law (on the requirements for public premises and events to take precautions against terrorist attacks) on small faith and community groups:
The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his and his department’s ongoing support for all faith communities that face extreme behaviour and attacks on their buildings and property. Will the Minister update the House on what material His Majesty’s Government are preparing in response to Martyn’s law, and how they plan to communicate clear and easily understood advice for small volunteer groups, including faith groups, many of which struggle with the demands of administration and compliance?
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