The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the minimum income threshold for applications for a (1) spousal, and (2) family, visa.
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about minimum income threshold for spousal and family visas”
The Bishop of Gloucester received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the intensification of land confiscation, settlement construction and settlement expansion in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 7 October 2023.
Continue reading “Bishop of Gloucester asks about treatment of Palestinians by Israeli settlers”The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of Winchester received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Winchester asked His Majesty’s Government whether they intend to work within international forums to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations against the Banyamulenge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Continue reading “Bishop of Winchester asks about protection of vulnerable communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Iraq”
The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of renewed violence in South Sudan during that country’s upcoming election.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about issues facing African countries, and refugees in Myanmar”The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke in a debate on the situation in Sudan on 13th September 2024, urging the government to work towards peacebuilding and reconciliation in the region:
The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: I too am grateful to the Minister for arranging this debate, in which we are hearing extraordinary expertise—with some exceptions. In particular, there are former Ministers for Africa. We have heard from the noble Lord, Lord Ahmad, who has had an extraordinarily distinguished career, and I look forward to hearing the speech of the noble Lord, Lord Bellingham. The speech given by the noble Lord, Lord Alton, was truly remarkable.
It is noticeable in what we have heard so far that the history of Sudan has been very present to us. I echo the words we have heard more than once: that this is not simply a conflict between two major power groups seeking power in Sudan. It is based in the fragility of a society that has seen war more than it has seen peace since Sudan became independent—both in what is now South Sudan and in Sudan itself.
Continue reading “Archbishop of Canterbury speaks in debate on conflict in Sudan, urging long term view towards peacebuilding”The Bishop of Leeds took part in a debate on the current conflict in Sudan on 13th September 2024, noting the escalating impact of the conflict and the need for the international community to act to save lives in the country:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, it is always a daunting honour to follow the noble Lord, Lord Alton, and the previous speakers. Like them, I have some considerable experience of Sudan, having been there a number of times and had dealings not just at the political level but on the ground, among very real and ordinary communities. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Collins, for securing this debate.
Behind the statistics, there are human beings and stories; 25 million people going hungry could be just a number until you look individuals in the eye. Dig a little deeper and the whole situation in Sudan is much more complicated than simply two generals having a scrap. What we can say with confidence is this: military violence, including the bombing of children, women and ordinary civilians, is appalling. It is often indiscriminate, especially when unleashed by the RSF in what increasingly looks like deliberate and intentional genocide in parts of Sudan. A humanitarian catastrophe has exploded in plain sight of the world and its Governments, with food shortages; the closing down of access for humanitarian aid from neighbouring countries; famine; malnutrition; and a generation of children who are being starved, made homeless and given no medical care or education.
As the director of the World Food Programme told us at the APPG, as was referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Alton:
“Avoidable famine is no longer a threat—it is a reality now”.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds takes part in debate on the current situation in Sudan, urging international action to address humanitarian concerns”The Bishop of Sheffield spoke in a debate on the crisis in higher education on 12th September 2024, emphasising the role of universities as a public good for communities:
The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Krebs, for focusing the attention of the House on the HE crisis and for the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Tarassenko.
As the Bishop of Sheffield I have close ties with both universities in the city, the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University. I am told that those two institutions support more than 19,500 jobs and generate more than £1 billion annually for the local economy. I know at first hand that they bring a rich cultural diversity to our city. What is true in Sheffield is true across the country: universities are generally hugely beneficial to the communities within which they are situated.
Continue reading “Bishop of Sheffield takes part in debate on higher education in the UK”The Bishop of Sheffield spoke in a debate on prison capacity on 12th September 2024, highlighting the important role made by prison chaplains and the need for prison staff to be properly resourced and supported:
The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Burt, for enabling this debate and for the opportunity to speak in it. My right reverend friend the Bishop of Gloucester, lead Bishop for prisons, is unable to be here today. I know she wishes that she had been able to contribute. I share her interest in the welfare of prisoners and of those called to work in prisons, not least in the four prisons in my diocese in and around Doncaster.
Ministers have made plain their deep concern at the capacity problem in our prisons and have set out their plans to address it in both the short and longer term. I urge the Government to think deeply about the factors that have led us to this crisis and to respond creatively and boldly when considering the purpose of prison and the alternatives to custody. At their best, prisons are places of transformation. Every person supported to turn away from offending makes our country safer for everyone. But truly effective rehabilitation almost always takes place in a context of care and trust. It surely goes without saying that overcrowding in prisons is not conducive to a transformative culture.
Continue reading “Bishop of Sheffield highlights importance of prison staff and chaplains during debate on UK prison capacity”The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on plans for franchising local bus and railway services on 12th September 2024, following a government statement on plans for bus franchising:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I declare an interest: I got the bus on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and today, and shall be getting it tomorrow. As I live in Greater Manchester, I have been a real beneficiary of what the previous Government allowed for franchising in my city and its surrounds. The buses have become more reliable: I can now go to a bus stop and expect a bus to turn up within 10 minutes, not 40 minutes, which I sometimes had to wait for before.
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about plans for bus franchising”
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