The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 18th December 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government how many conversations the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had with farming sector representatives about changes to agricultural property relief prior to the change being announced.
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The Bishop of Chelmsford spoke in support of the Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill on 13th December 2024, raising the negative impact of limited adjustment periods and the need for grace in the asylum system:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, like many others, it is a pleasure for me to speak in support of this Bill. I too pay tribute to the Private Member’s Bill in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, as well as to other campaigners who have continued to call for a longer move-on period for those newly granted refugee status.
I sincerely welcome the Government’s decision to introduce this pilot, extending the move on-period to 56 days. It is among the recommendations of the recent Commission on the Integration of Refugees, of which I was pleased to be a commissioner; I should also state my interest as a principal of RAMP. It seems only a short while ago that we were responding to the reduction of the period to seven days, soon after which refugee homelessness figures reached an unprecedented peak, accounting for 51% of rough sleepers—a near 1,000% increase between the July of that year and last autumn.
Continue reading “Asylum Support (Prescribed Period) Bill: Bishop of Chelmsford speaks in support”The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 12th December 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 10th December 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:
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.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about immigration detention review”The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 19th November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government how many asylum liaison officers are currently in post in the Home Office, and whether there are any plans for further recruitment to support newly recognised refugees through the move-on process.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about migration and refugees”The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 2nd September 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage sustainable packaging for all medication distributed by the NHS, including sustainable alternatives to plastic blister packs for pills.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about sustainability in medication distribution”During a debate on 18th July 2024 in response to the King’s Speech, the Bishop of Chelmsford spoke on the topic of housing, urging the government to take strong and long term action to address the need for new and high quality housing in the UK:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, I declare my interest as the Church of England’s lead Bishop for housing. Along with other noble Lords, I very much look forward to the maiden speech of the noble Lord, Lord Fuller.
It is undeniable that the UK is in the midst of a housing crisis—one with deep roots. Too often, housing has been viewed as a financial asset rather than a fundamental human need. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, for the comments and commitments in his opening speech, but the housing crisis has been escalating for decades, so we should not underestimate just how long it will take to fix. Therefore, I cannot overstate the need for long-term thinking in tackling the housing crisis, a point well made by the noble Baroness, Lady Warwick.
A clear, long-term vision and a carefully thought-through strategy to provide decent, affordable homes for all can deliver three major goals of economic growth, social justice and environmental stewardship. That is why, along with my right reverend friend the Bishop of St Albans, I am pleased to support Homes for All—a vision for a long-term housing strategy supported by churches, charities, think tanks and others, which I commend to all noble Lords.
Continue reading “King’s Speech Debate: Bishop of Chelmsford urges action on housing crisis”The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 23rd May 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answers on 23rd May 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the appropriate length of time before an asylum claim can be deemed inadmissible, given that current Home Office caseworker guidance states that “the inadmissibility process must not create a lengthy ‘limbo’ position, where a pending decision or delays in removal after a decision mean that a claimant cannot advance their asylum claim either in the UK or in a safe third country”.
Continue reading “Bishop of Chelmsford asks about conditions in the UK immigration and asylum system”
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