On 13th December 2022, the House of Lords debated the 2022 Voter ID Regulations. A vote was held on an amendment to the regulations, in which Bishops took part:
Votes: Voter ID Regulations
Tag: Chelmsford
Bishop of Chelmsford asks about extending access to free school meals
The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a question on extending free school meals to all children from families in receipt of universal credit on 13th December 2022, during a debate on free school meals funding and decision making power:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, building on the question the noble Lord has just asked, research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that out of 3.9 million children living in relative poverty in the UK, only 2.3 million receive free school meals. Can the Minister say whether the Government intend to extend free school meals to all children from families receiving universal credit?
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about extending access to free school meals”Bishop of Chelmsford asks about support for Iranians in the UK following protests and executions in Iran
The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a question about support for Iranians in the UK with loved ones in Iran on 12th December 2022, in light of the recent arrests and executions of protesters in Iran:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, the news of the executions in Iran is deeply concerning and heart-breaking. I declare an interest as someone who originally comes from Iran and still has friends and loved ones there. There are likely to be many more executions still to come, with a dozen death sentences already issued. I would be grateful if the Minister could outline what support the Government are providing to Iranians in the UK who are seeking to ensure the safety of loved ones in Iran.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about support for Iranians in the UK following protests and executions in Iran”Bishop of Chelmsford asks about housing support for migrant survivors of domestic abuse
The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a question about support for migrant survivors during a debate on housing support for domestic abuse survivors on 12th December 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, in addressing this very important Question, I think we should also consider the experience of migrant survivors who may have insecure status or no recourse to public funds or may be frightened of repercussions for contacting the police. Will the Minister outline what progress the Government have made in the light of the DAC’s recommendation to develop a long-term funding solution that ensures that a clear universal pathway to support is available to domestic abuse survivors regardless of migration status and whether they will be reporting on the results of the pilot project to support migrant survivors?
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about housing support for migrant survivors of domestic abuse”Bishop of Chelmsford – good housing solutions required for good refugee integration
On 9th December 2022 the Bishop of Chelmsford spoke in a debate led by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the principles behind UK asylum and refugee policy.
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Twycross, for her gracious maiden speech and for mentioning the role of churches in local resilience forums. I look forward to hearing the two maiden speeches to come. The right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Leicester and I were formerly colleagues when I was Bishop of Loughborough, and I look forward to working with him in this House.
I thank my right reverend friend the Archbishop of Canterbury for securing this timely and important debate. This past year alone, we have seen multiple developments of concern, with an increase in forced migration due to conflict around the globe and over a third of Ukraine’s population displaced by war, with millions seeking refuge beyond their borders. A record 40,000-plus people have made the precarious English Channel crossing. We have also seen deeply troubling conditions faced by people once they are in the UK: overcrowded processing centres, threats of deportation to Rwanda, and a lack of resettlement through the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford – good housing solutions required for good refugee integration”Bishop of Chelmsford asks about affordable housing
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 14th November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:
- given the current definition of affordable housing in the National Planning Policy Framework, whether they consider that rents set at 80 per cent of market rates should continue to be described as ‘affordable rent’ when this represents more than a third of the income of the average tenant in such accommodation
- whether they plan to calculate the affordability of housing on the basis of the income of potential tenants.
Bishop of Chelmsford asks about affordable housing, housebuilding, and renters’ reform
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 2nd November 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of raising the threshold at which affordable housing quotas apply, from developments of 10 houses to developments of (1) 40, and (2) 50 houses, on the creation of affordable housing stock.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con): In August 2020, HMG consulted on raising the threshold at which affordable housing contributions are required from 10 units to 40 or 50 units. This was proposed as part of the ‘Changes to the Current Planning System’.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about affordable housing, housebuilding, and renters’ reform”Bishop of Chelmsford asks about the Homes for Ukraine scheme
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 24th October 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address pressures on those hosting Ukrainian refugees through the Homes for Ukraine scheme in order to avoid unintended consequences, such as relationship breakdown or homelessness, where alternative solutions cannot be found for their guests.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about the Homes for Ukraine scheme”Bishop of Chelmsford asks about affordable housing
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 24th October 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to include a revision of the definition of affordable housing in the National Planning Policy Framework review.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about affordable housing”Votes: Social Housing (Regulations) Bill 2022
On 18th October 2022, the House of Lords debated amendments to the Social Housing (Regulations) Bill in the report stage. Votes were held on two amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part.
You must be logged in to post a comment.