cost of living – Page 4 – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Oxford asks about the cost of energy

On 6th September 2022, the Bishop of Oxford asked a question on energy bills for low income families:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, it is very good to hear that a plan is in place to address this catastrophe, which is concerning so many people, and to bring help to households. What steps will the Government take to address this fundamental failure of the market, such that huge, almost unimaginable profits are accruing to energy companies, while the poorest in the country face the dreadful choice between heating and eating?

Bishop of Durham asks about the cost of living

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 5th September 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government:

what assessment they have made of the effect of increases to the cost of living on problem debt; and what steps that are taking to reduce problem debt.
what assessment they have made of the effect of increases to the cost of living on problem debt for those in the bottom 40 per cent of equivalised household incomes; and what steps they are taking to protect such households from problem debt.
what steps the Money and Pensions Service is taking to help those in need of debt advice know where to seek it.

Bishop of St Albans speaks in a debate on the cost of living

On 9th June 2022, the Bishop of St Albans spoke in a debate on the escalating cost of living:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I too want to thank the noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, for his excellent introduction to the debate. I was not going to say much about social capital. Like others, I was brought up on Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone and reading his excellent work. I notice that the noble Lord’s analysis was very much on the economic aspect. From my perspective of having responsibility for over 400 churches across two counties, the voluntary aspect is also an important part of that work.

One of the things that I have observed over the last 40 years is that the decline in social capital is due to a whole lot of reasons, which we really ought to debate in this House, including things such as the Government’s attempts to professionalise volunteers. It has become increasingly difficult to find people to help. As an organisation that is running numerous food banks, debt advice centres, lunch clubs and breakfast clubs for children who are not going to get breakfast before school, we are very eager to be part of this, but it has got more difficult for us to deliver it. I must not stay on that too long, or I will be over my time.

Bishop of Oxford asks about the cost of living

The Bishop of Oxford asked the following question in a debate about the cost of living, on 25th May 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Oxford: My Lords, the Minister and other noble Lords will be aware of the paradox that it is often the very poorest people in society who pay a higher tariff for their electricity through pre-payment meters and the like. They may not have bank accounts or the ability to pay on any kind of credit. Are the Government proposing to do anything to help and support those who are locked into these higher energy prices when they can least afford then?

Bishop of St Albans asks about Indian ban on cereal exports

On 19th May 2022, the Bishop of St Albans asked a question concerning a ban placed on cereal exports by India:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decision by the government of India to ban the export of cereals from that country on inflation and the cost of living in the United Kingdom.

Queen’s Speech: Bishop of Durham speaks on the cost of living

On 17th May 2022, the House of Lords debated the Queen’s Speech. The Bishop of Durham spoke in the debate, regarding the cost of living and the two child limit on universal credit:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I declare my interests as chair of the National Society and co-chair of the Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households.

A key question for evaluating the legislative agenda laid out in the gracious Speech is: are we, as a nation, prioritising the holistic well-being of all our children? I welcome the forthcoming Schools Bill. I pay tribute to the Secretary of State’s approach in constructively working with us to enable churches to have confidence in moving towards a system where all schools can be in a strong academy trust, maintaining their own ethos. The whole system must provide an education not solely pursuing the ends of maths and literacy but enabling children to be the best people they can be and to contribute to transforming the schools in which we live.

Bishop of Durham asks about the cost of living

on 17th May 2022, the Bishop of Durham asked a question during a debate on the rising cost of living:

The Lord Bishop of Durham: How much time have Treasury Ministers and DWP Ministers spent sitting, listening and talking with people who are struggling either to eat or heat? It is first-hand evidence that really matters; do not get it just from reports.

Bishop of Durham asks about housing

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 27th April 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to the rising cost of living, what plans they have, if any, to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance.

Baroness Stedman-Scott (Con): The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector. The level of LHA rates is reviewed annually by the Secretary of State.

In 2020-21, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we invested almost £1 billion in the LHA which meant 1.5 million households received an average increase of £600 more than they would otherwise have received.

Bishop of Worcester speaks on the Economy: Spring Statement

The House of Lords debated the Lord Chancellor’s spring statement on the economy in Grand Committee on 31st March 2022. The Bishop of Worcester spoke in the debate:

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, I first put on record my appreciation of the good things the Chancellor announced in the Spring Statement. He had an extremely difficult job on his hands when preparing it. The aftermath of the pandemic made things difficult enough before the horrors unfolding in Ukraine came on to our screens. I do not envy him the immensely difficult balancing act he has to perform to ensure that the public finances do not suffer irrevocably while giving help to those facing an unprecedented squeeze on their finances.

I pay tribute to the good things announced in the Statement, particularly in providing help for the hard-pressed. Having said that, I agree with noble Lords about the need to do more on climate change. We cannot afford to take our eye off that particular ball—the most serious crisis of our times. I was moved by the experience related by archbishops of the Anglican Communion, who, as it happens, were all in Parliament this morning, particularly those whose provinces are already being devastated by the impacts of climate change.

Bishop of Leeds asks about the cost of living

The Bishop of Leeds asked a question about the impact of the rising cost of living on 23rd March 2022, during a debate on the government’s Loneliness Strategy:

The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, have the Government made any assessment of the likely impact of the cost-of-living crisis, including energy prices and all of that, on family breakdown in this country?

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