Tag: Chester

Bishop of Chester asks Government about parental engagement with PSHE

On the 10th February 2016 Baroness Massey of Darwen asked the Government “what steps they propose to take to make Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education compulsory within the curriculum”. The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, asked a follow up question.

14.03 Bishop of ChesterThe Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, although I agree with all that the Minister has said in response to the questions, is it not the case that engaging parents—making sure that what is taught in schools relates to and engages parents as much as possible—is also important to any government action which may be forthcoming in the future? Continue reading “Bishop of Chester asks Government about parental engagement with PSHE”

Trade Union Bill – Bishop of Chester supports amendment on electronic balloting

ChesterOn 8th February 2016, the House of Lords considered the Government’s Trade Union Bill in committee. The Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Peter Forster, spoke in favour of amendments to allowing electronic voting in union ballots alongside the Bill’s introduction of mandatory thresholds for strike ballots.  Baroness Neville-Rolfe responded for the Government. Continue reading “Trade Union Bill – Bishop of Chester supports amendment on electronic balloting”

Bishop of Chester asks Government about junior doctors’ remuneration

ChesterOn the 27th January 2016 Lord Harries of Pentregarth asked the Government “what assessment they have made of the remuneration of junior doctors”. The Rt Revd Peter Forster, Bishop of Chester, asked a follow up question.

The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, I, too, declare that I have a daughter who is a junior doctor. She is in her fourth year since qualification. To get to the level of remuneration that the noble Lord mentioned—some £23,000—junior doctors have to work jolly long and unsocial hours. But my specific question is: what is the comparator with other developed western countries for the remuneration of our younger doctors?

Continue reading “Bishop of Chester asks Government about junior doctors’ remuneration”

Bishop of Chester pays tribute to Heritage Lottery Fund support for cathedrals and church buildings

On 17th December 2015 the House of Lords debated a motion from Lord Holmes of Richmond, “To move that this House takes note, on the occasion of its 21st birthday, of the contribution made by the National Lottery to sport, culture, charities and national heritage throughout the United Kingdom.” The Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Peter Forster, spoke in the debate,paying tribute to the positive impact lottery funding has had on cathedrals and church buildings. 

14.03 Bishop of Chester

The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, most of us will remember the strapline which launched the National Lottery: “It could be you”. Well, I never quite believed that it would be me but, nevertheless, the lottery has had great success over time. Many people thought that it would slightly fade from view and lose some of its initial gloss. Indeed, people worked out that it probably would not be them at all. It is very interesting how it has become a national institution. In that sense, we have been led into temptation on a grand scale. Continue reading “Bishop of Chester pays tribute to Heritage Lottery Fund support for cathedrals and church buildings”

Divisions – European Union Referendum Bill

On 14th December 2015 the House of Lords considered the House of Commons’ reasons for rejecting Lords amendments to the Government’s European Union Referendum Bill on extending the vote to 16 and 17 year olds. Peers voted on a new amendment from the Opposition, which sought to reinstate the lower voting age in the European referendum. The Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Peter Forster, took part. Continue reading “Divisions – European Union Referendum Bill”

Bishop of Chester asks question on Sunday Trading

On the 14th December Baroness Deech asked the Government “whether they have plans to reform Sunday trading laws.” The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, asked a follow-up question.

ChesterThe Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, would a useful reform be to go back to the good old days when people were paid double time for working on Sunday; then, shops, in the main, would not want to open? If I introduced a Private Member’s Bill, would the Government support me? Continue reading “Bishop of Chester asks question on Sunday Trading”

Bishop of Chester supports measure in Scotland Bill stating permanence of Scottish Parliament and Government

On 8th December 2015 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Scotland Bill at Committee stage. The Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Peter Forster, spoke during debate on amendments to the Bill from Lord Norton of Louth and Lord Forsyth of Drumlean.

The amendment from Lord Norton proposed the removal from the Bill of two new clauses to be added to the 1998 Scotland Act, namely: 

(1) The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government are a permanent part of the United Kingdom’s constitutional arrangements.
(2) The purpose of this section is, with due regard to the other provisions of this Act, to signify the commitment of the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom.

Lord Forsyth’s amendment sought to change the wording of (1) so that it instead read

(1) The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government are recognised as a permanent part of the United Kingdom’s constitutional arrangements.

The Bishop argued against both amendments on the grounds that they conflicted with settled political reality and would send unwelcome signals. The amendments were withdrawn after debate.

14.03 Bishop of Chester

The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, it is always dodgy for bishops to speak about Scottish matters. The kirk has sometimes considered the possibility of introducing bishops but the one condition it has always applied is that they must not be like English bishops—they must be quite different.

I have some credentials inasmuch as I have had a close association with Scotland for 40 years, since I went to Edinburgh as a student. I have had a house in Scotland for 30 years, I have two Scottish degrees and one Scottish wife, who has kept my feet on the ground over the years. I shall also retire to Scotland shortly, and very much look forward to doing so. Continue reading “Bishop of Chester supports measure in Scotland Bill stating permanence of Scottish Parliament and Government”

Divisions – Enterprise Bill

On 30 November 2015 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Enterprise Bill at its Report Stage. Votes were held on three amendments and the Bishop of Chester, Rt Revd Peter Forster, took part in all three divisions. Continue reading “Divisions – Enterprise Bill”

Divisions – European Union Referendum Bill

On 18th November 2015 the Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Peter Forster, took part in two votes on amendments to the Government’s European Union Referendum Bill –  on votes for 16 year olds and eligibility of overseas commonwealth citizens to vote in the referendum.

Continue reading “Divisions – European Union Referendum Bill”

Bishop of Chester leads Lords debate on the impact of pornography on society


On the 5th November 2015 the Rt Revd Peter Forster, the Bishop of Chester, hosted a debate in the House of Lords “That this House takes note of the impact of pornography on society.” The full text of his speeches opening and closing the debate are below, as is the speech from the Government Minister in reply. The Bishops’ speech can also be watched online here. The Bishop of Bristol also spoke in the debate and his remarks can be seen here.

Chester
The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, your Lordships may feel that they have sometimes listened to a speech from these Benches and thought that the speaker is not entirely familiar with the subject. There is, of course, an old adage that generally the Bishop speaks and generally the Bishop speaks generally. I shall avoid an echo of the confessional, but I can say that my first-hand knowledge of pornography is very limited. Of the range of vices available to me, I have been tempted by most, but not in any significant way by pornography. If the statistics are to be believed, that makes me a rather unusual, if not exotic, creature.

Pornography is a very widespread feature of western society, especially since the advent of the internet age. In my ministry I have come across addiction to pornography as a factor in individual marriage breakdown. As a Bishop, I have had two of my clergy prosecuted for downloading child sexual abuse images, usually called child pornography. Both these priests were given custodial sentences and both are unlikely ever again to exercise the Christian ministry for which they were trained. Continue reading “Bishop of Chester leads Lords debate on the impact of pornography on society”