Bishop of Bristol highlights the effect of loneliness on health and wellbeing

On 26th November 2015 the House of Lords debated a motion from Lord Crisp, “that this House takes note of the case for building a health-creating society in the United Kingdom where all sectors contribute to creating a healthy and resilient population.” The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Mike Hill, spoke in the debate:


Bishop of Bristol June 2015The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Crisp, for introducing this debate and this very big idea into the Chamber. Already we start to see that the breadth of material that needs to be thought about in relation to creating a healthy society is indeed vast. I sat here for some of the debate thinking were I the Minister—God forbid—how I might respond to such a plethora of concerns that have been articulated. I wish him well with that.

 

Of course, what we cannot do, as several noble Lords have noted, is expect the Government to solve this on their own, although I think there is a major challenge involved in this for government. That is what I would call the alignment of policy—how do you align policy over a very wide range of areas in life in such a way that human well-being emerges from it? Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol highlights the effect of loneliness on health and wellbeing”

Bishop of Bristol speaks in debate about impact of pornography on society

On the 5th November 2015 the Bishop of Chester led a Lords debate “That this House takes note of the impact of pornography on society.” Rt Revd Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol, spoke in the debate on how pornography impacted on the way adults and children formed relationships. The Bishop of Chester’s opening speech can also be read here.

Bishop of Bristol June 2015The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I join those congratulating my noble friend the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Chester on bringing this debate into your Lordships’ House. I also commend his detailed knowledge of DH Lawrence. I recall that when I was in school there were merely three pages of his book that captured our attention.

Despite what my noble fiend Lord Giddens has said—and there is much sense in what he said—there is a general anxiety in our society about pornography and its impact, not just on our children and young adults but also on adult behaviour. Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol speaks in debate about impact of pornography on society”

Bishop of Bristol asks if Government will simplify system for those wanting to offer homes and support to Syrian refugees

On 27th October 2015 Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty’s Government “what plans they have to ensure that they meet the Prime Minister’s objective that 1,000 Syrian refugees should be brought to Britain by Christmas.” The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Mike Hill, asked a supplementary question.

Bishop of Bristol June 2015The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, I detect a kind of frustration at the moment around the fact that a good many people are very happy to help and willing to give homes to these refugees but find the process of working that out a little opaque and, frankly, at times overbureaucratic, while recognising that there need to be some bureaucratic safeguards. Will my noble friend comment on what the Government propose to do to make the process transparent and easily accessible to those who want to give genuine care to those in great need?


Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks if Government will simplify system for those wanting to offer homes and support to Syrian refugees”

Bishop of Bristol asks Government about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record

On 13th October 2015 the Bishop of Bristol, Rt Rev Mike Hill, received answers to two written questions of Government on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.


Bishop of Bristol June 2015The Lord Bishop of Bristol: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the appointment of Saudi Arabia to head a panel at the UN Human Rights Council. Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks Government about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record”

Bishop of Bristol supports measures to protect children and young people from targeting by drug dealers

Bishop of Bristol June 2015On the 14th July 2015 the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, spoke in support of an amendment he had co-sponsored with Lord Kirkwood to the Government’s Psychoactive Substances Bill, to strengthen as an offence the supply or offering to supply psychoactive substances on or near children’s homes and schools. The amendment was not out to a vote following assurances received from the Minister, Lord Bates.

Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol supports measures to protect children and young people from targeting by drug dealers”

Divisions – Psychoactive Substances Bill

On 14th July 2015, three bishops took part in divisions on the Government’s Psychoactive Substances Bill.

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

Continue reading “Divisions – Psychoactive Substances Bill”

Bishop of Bristol asks Government about palliative care and the future of hospital chaplaincy

Bishop of Bristol June 2015
On the 8th of July 2015 the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill, received two written answers to questions about the future of hospital chaplaincy and palliative care.

Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks Government about palliative care and the future of hospital chaplaincy”

Bishop of Bristol calls for training for prison staff in mental health awareness

On the 24th June Lord Patel asked Her Majesty’s Government “what steps they are taking to achieve parity of esteem between mental health and physical health in prisons.” The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Mike Hill, asked a supplementary question about mental health awareness training.Bishop of Bristol June 2015

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, given the complex needs of so many prisoners and the fact that those needs have to be addressed consistently, does the Minister agree with me that the risks associated with such prisoners could be greatly reduced were all operational staff in prisons given training on mental health awareness?

Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol calls for training for prison staff in mental health awareness”

Psychoactive Substances Bill – Committee Stage

On 23rd June 2015 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Psychoactive Substances Bill during its first day in committee. The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Mike Hill, made a brief intervention during the debate on an amendment about legalisation of certain drugs, tabled by Lord Howarth of Newport. Continue reading “Psychoactive Substances Bill – Committee Stage”

Bishop of Bristol asks Government about chaplaincy and palliative care

On 23rd June 2015 Lord Farmer asked Her Majesty’s Government “in the light of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report Dying Without Dignity, what steps they are taking to ensure that everyone in need has access to good palliative care.” The Bishop of Bristol, Rt Revd Mike Hill, asked a further question about chaplaincy.

Bishop of Bristol June 2015

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: My Lords, given that both NICE and NHS England have commended the services of spiritual, pastoral and religious care in the care of all people and in delivering great services to patients, clients and staff, can the Minister give us any assurances that a chaplaincy will be funded, going forward, in all NHS facilities that provide palliative care?

Continue reading “Bishop of Bristol asks Government about chaplaincy and palliative care”