Chichester – Page 2 – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Chichester asks about closure of the UK Inter-Faith Network

The Bishop of Chichester asked a question on the impact of the closure of the UK Inter-Faith Network on 21st February 2024, following the withdrawal of funding from the network by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, this is an extremely difficult time, in which we hear profoundly disturbing reports of the rise in race and faith-based hate crimes. Tomorrow, the board of the UK’s Inter Faith Network will meet to confirm its closure following the withdrawal of funding by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This comes at a time when we urgently need to promote interfaith dialogue and the expansion of religious literacy in schools, as has been mentioned, and elsewhere. What assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the impact of the closure of the Inter Faith Network, and what will replace it?

Safety of Rwanda (Immigration and Asylum) Bill: Bishop of Chichester supports amendments on role of the courts in asylum system

On 19th February 2024, the House of Lords debated the Safety of Rwanda (Immigration and Asylum) Bill in committee. The Bishop of Chichester spoke in the debate, in support of two sets of amendments on the jurisdiction of the courts, pointing out the practical issues associated with offshoring of asylum seekers:

amendments tabled by Baroness Chakrabarti restoring the jurisdiction of domestic courts “by rendering the future safety of Rwanda (evidenced by UNHCR advice) a rebuttable presumption and restoring the ability for UK courts and tribunals to grant interim relief…”
amendments in the name of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Baroness Chakrabarti which would seek to ensure that that proper regard is given to interim measures of the European Court of Human Rights in accordance with international law

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, my noble friend the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Canterbury regrets that he cannot be in his place today to speak to the amendments in this group tabled in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Chakrabarti, and the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Hale. I wish to associate my remarks with theirs and to emphasise how important the restoration of the jurisdiction of the domestic courts is in considering also UNHRC evidence and the ability to grant interim relief. This is no mere technicality. This jurisdiction might make the difference between sending an asylum seeker to Rwanda while their claim, or an aspect of their claim, is pending or not doing so.

Bishop of Chichester introduces Church of England pensions and miscellaneous provisions legislation

On 23rd January 2024, the Bishop of Chichester spoke in support of two motions to direct that the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure and the Church of England Pensions (Application of Capital Funds) Measure be presented for Royal Assent. The Bishop of Manchester also spoke in support of one motion.

Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure

Motion to Direct

Moved by –

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: That this House do direct that, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919, the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.

My Lords, this is the latest in a series of miscellaneous provisions measures. It makes provision for a range of matters concerning the Church of England that do not merit separate, freestanding legislation. It includes provisions relating to the General Synod, ecclesiastical offices, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, Church property, elections to representative bodies, the functions of the Church Commissioners, appointments to the Church of England pensions board and the conduct of various types of meeting. I do not propose to take noble Lords through each of its 22 clauses in turn, but I thought I should draw attention to some of the more significant provisions.

Immigration & Nationality Fees: Bishop of Chichester raises threat of increased levels of child poverty

On 4th December 2023, the Bishop of Chichester spoke in a debate on a motion to regret tabled by Baroness Lister on the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2023, raising the potential impact the change in regulations would have on levels of child poverty:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, I am enormously grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, for bringing this debate to us. I underline my great support for everything that she said, as well as what has been said in other contributions.

Bishop of Chichester speaks in debate on ongoing conflict in Ukraine

The Bishop of Chichester spoke in a debate on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine on 21st September 2023, raising the importance of religious freedom and the social role played by cultural and religious institutions during times of conflict:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, for introducing this debate and for the time that it gives us to rehearse the serious moral issues confronting us as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. Following the noble Lord, Lord Hannay, I echo my appreciation for the stirring comments from the noble and gallant Lord, Lord Stirrup, reminding us with great clarity of the issue of war crimes in this conflict, and the noble Lord, Lord Robertson, for reminding us how high the moral stakes are for us all.

I wish to place on record the importance of the ecclesial and religious dimensions of the political and military conflict in Ukraine, and the historic importance that religion has for the people of that land as the gateway of Christianity in the Orthodox tradition for this whole stretch of northern Europe, from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: Bishop of Chichester welcomes legislation on financial support for church buildings

On 21st September 2023, the House of Lords debated the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill in its third reading. The Bishop of Chichester spoke in the debate, welcoming legislation in the bill brought by the Bishop of Bristol clarifying local authority funding for church buildings and parish churches:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, I apologise for my misplaced enthusiasm in wanting to add to these thanks. I shall speak briefly on behalf of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Bristol to record her thanks to the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Bybrook, for all the constructive work that is represented in the Bill and to assure the noble Baroness of our continued prayers for her recovery.

Bishop of Chichester asks about military action by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh

The Bishop of Chichester tabled a question on Azerbaijan’s military actions in the Nagorno-Karabakh region on 21st September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: To ask His Majesty’s Government what representations have been made to the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan concerning the military action against Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Earl of Courtown (Con): My Lords, Tuesday brought devastating news of the resumption of armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Government urge Azerbaijan to cease military action and return to peaceful dialogue. Violence is never the answer. Yesterday details emerged of a ceasefire. We call on parties to respect this and encourage Baku to continue talks with the local population on a settlement that protects the security of all and enables the humanitarian needs of residents to be met.

Bishop of Chichester asks about reduced rate of applications to study nursing

The Bishop of Chichester asked a question on reduced rates of nursing study applications on 19th September 2023, pointing out the effects of the cost of living and the current lack of external placements for nursing students:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, following on from the noble Lord who spoke about his university, the University of Chichester—in the diocese where I serve—is now developing practice-focused nursing courses, including a new nursing associate apprenticeship scheme, even though the cost of living in the south-east is a disincentive to seeking to work in the healthcare sector. However, the university is finding that the current funding and availability of external placements are restricting the growth of these courses, despite the university’s capacity to take more students. What measures are the Government taking to support education and placement expansion at the pace requested by the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan?

Votes: Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

On 18th September 2023, the House of Lords debated the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill in the Report Stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which a Bishop took part:

Levelling-up & Regeneration Bill: Bishop of Chichester supports amendment on local authority budgets

On 13th July 2023, the House of Lords debated the Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill in the second day of the report stage. The Bishop of Chichester spoke in the debate, in support of an amendment intended to ensure that local authorities have appropriate budgets to meet their funding commitments:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: My Lords, I wish to speak in support of Amendment 63, which I had understood was tabled in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Taylor, but to which the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman, spoke. I speak having consulted with my colleague the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Bristol, who has been doing some work in this area.

It seems entirely right and logical that the methodology used for allocating funds for a local authority is based on the most up-to-date information. As has been outlined, the current mechanism of allocating funds does not respond to local needs or local data and often seems to rely on data that is out of date. This will simply act as a barrier to the crucial role local government has to play in ensuring that people can receive the services and support they need, no matter where they live. These services, from collecting bins and filling potholes to providing much-needed support for low-income households and preventing homelessness—core business—have a considerable impact on the wellbeing and welfare of families and households who may be struggling to get by, and in turn affect the fabric of our communities.

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