Tag: debt

Bishop of Sheffield asks about sustainable development

The Bishop of Sheffield asked a question on pauses in debt repayment, during a discussion on the most recent international development white paper, on 23rd November 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, those of us on these Benches also welcome the Statement and the renewal of the UK’s commitment to sustainable development set out in the White Paper. In particular, we welcome the proposal to permit pauses in scheduled debt repayments in situations of crisis due to conflict or extreme weather events. However, will the Government acknowledge that piecemeal pauses to debt repayments are bound to prove insufficient to enable the progress now urgently needed if we are to achieve the SDGs by 2030? Is not something more comprehensive now needed?

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Bishop of Manchester asks about reduction of African countries’ debts

The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answer on 12th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by African Faith Leaders on 8 August calling for a reduction of debt across African countries.

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Bishop of Durham asks about prevention of debts for universal credit recipients

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 21st March 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report An Essentials Guarantee: Reforming Universal Credit to ensure we can all afford the essentials in hard times, published on 27 February, which found that “95 per cent of people on Universal Credit facing debt deductions are going without essentials”, what steps they are taking to prevent debt from being (1) generated, and (2) sustained, in the social security system.

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Bishop of Chelmsford asks about debt management process for universal credit recipients

The Bishop of Chelmsford asked a question on reform to debt management for universal credit recipients during a debate on food banks and the rise in poverty on 9th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford: My Lords, given the data published by the Trussell Trust in December which revealed that 57% of people referred to food banks who are in receipt of universal credit face government deductions from their or their partner’s benefits income, could the Minister outline what steps the Government will take to reform the debt management process for universal credit?

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Bishop of Southwark asks about debts owed by Zambia

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 22nd November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty’s Government, further to the recent loan provided by the International Monetary Fund to the country of Zambia, what discussions, if any, they have had with (1) the government of China, and (2) private western lenders, about cancelling debt owed by the government of Zambia.

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Bishop of Durham asks about debts and universal credit

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

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of government debt deductions on Universal Credit recipients’ ability to afford essential items; and what steps they are taking to prevent debt deductions contributing to destitution as the cost of living increases.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about debt recovery

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about debt recovery on 23rd March 2022, during a debate on the government’s spring statement:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, in the light of the huge inflationary pressures that are on people across the board and with the Government’s plan to use universal credit as a way of recovering £6 billion-worth of historic tax credit debt, what assessment has been made of whether there is the slightest chance of recovering those debts? What assessment has been made of that level of debt?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about support for those on low incomes

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about debt and support for those on low incomes on 22nd March 2022, during a debate on social security:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, does the Minister agree with me that we need a wide range of supportive schemes when we are trying to work with those who are coping with the issues caused by low incomes? Have Her Majesty’s Government assessed the Financial Shield pilot scheme which is running at the moment? It brings together health professionals and community organisations, as well as creditors, who are trying to take a long-term supportive approach to working with those who find themselves in debt?

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Bishop of Chelmsford asks about historic debt related to non-delivery of tanks to Iran

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 29th November 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford asked Her Majesty’s Government what is the status of the £400 million debt owed to the government of Iran for the non-delivery of Chieftain tanks in 1979; and what steps they are taking to repay it.

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Bishop of Southwark asks about debt relief

The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 21st June 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government, given the operation of vulture funds and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on poorer income countries, what consideration they have given to introducing legislation similar to the time-expired Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010.

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