Tag: Derby

Bishop of Derby on need for focus on funding, relationship education and reformation as ways to tackle domestic abuse

On 22nd March 2018 Baroness Lister of Burtersett asked Her Majesty’s Government “what plans they have to support survivors of domestic abuse and to prevent future abuse.” The Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, spoke in the debate:

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, for introducing this important debate. It is crucial that we hold together support for victims and prevention. To get value for our investment we need to push back against the space that allows this crime to happen. I want to offer one or two thoughts about the framework within which resources need to be spent, and about the challenge to the Minister and to local authorities in the complexities that we are trying to deal with. The smaller the budget, the greater the odds against anything working. Continue reading “Bishop of Derby on need for focus on funding, relationship education and reformation as ways to tackle domestic abuse”

Bishop of Derby asks Government about modern slavery and child trafficking

Bishop of DerbyOn 19th March 2018, Baroness Kennedy of Cradley asked Her Majesty’s Government ‘over the last 10 years, how many children trafficked into the United Kingdom who have subsequently applied for asylum have had their applications approved.’ The Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, asked a follow up question:

Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks Government about modern slavery and child trafficking”

Bishop of Derby asks government about access to water in developing countries

derby-19117On the 24th January 2018 Lord Cameron of Dillington held a debate about sustainable water management in developing countries. The Bishop of Derby, the Rt Revd Alistair Redfern spoke in the debate and highlighted the work of a local charity in Derbyshire who send aid boxes containing hydration units to areas of conflict or natural disaster:

The Lord Bishop of Derby: I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Cameron, for introducing this vital issue. The timeframe is pressing and getting shorter. It is wonderful to hear the testimony of colleagues about Nepal and the inspiring story of the noble Lord, Lord Freeman, on what can be done with commitment. However, it is the scale of the problem that we have to mark.

Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks government about access to water in developing countries”

Bishop of Derby on need for a strategic policy to put languages at the heart of learning

On Thursday 18th January 2018 the House of Lords debated a motion from Baroness Coussins “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the importance of modern foreign language teaching in schools and universities, and of the impact of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union on the sustainability of that teaching.” The Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, spoke in the debate:

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Baroness, Lady Coussins. I want to say something about the general importance of the subject, and then some specific things about business and primary. The noble Baroness has set out a lot of the data, which is the foundation.

In my tradition there is a myth called the Tower of Babel, which many of you will know, which points to the reality of the human condition being that we live in a massive number of language groups. That is either a challenge for conflict or an opportunity for co-operation. The key is for language therefore to be used creatively. Continue reading “Bishop of Derby on need for a strategic policy to put languages at the heart of learning”

Votes – Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2017-19

On 15th January 2018 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill at its Report Stage.  Several bishops took part in two votes on amendments to the Bill: Continue reading “Votes – Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2017-19”

Dame Caroline Spelman MP highlights the work of The Clewer Initiative to combat modern slavery

Spelman CCQs June 2015 2

On the 26th October the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP spoke in the House of Commons during a debate about the Modern Slavery Act. Dame Caroline highlighted the work of the Church of England to tackle modern slavery and spoke about the work of the Churches new Clewer Initative to support Diocese across the country in tackling modern slavery.

Continue reading “Dame Caroline Spelman MP highlights the work of The Clewer Initiative to combat modern slavery”

Bishop of Derby on the role of chaplaincy in the First World War and ‘Woodbine Willie’.

On 19th October 2017 the House of Lords debated a motion from Lord Black “That this House takes note of the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele and of Her Majesty’s Government’s plans to commemorate it.” The Bishop of Derby, Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, spoke in the debate, highlighting the role of chaplaincy in the First World War and the example of ‘Woodbine Willie’, Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy:

The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Black of Brentwood, and associate myself with the lovely phrase that it is both a privilege and very humbling to be part of this remembrance.

Passchendaele is, as we have heard, a symbol of war: the human cost, the sheer complexity of leadership and the sheer complexity of operations. Commemoration is not simply to remember but, as the noble Lord, Lord West, has just pointed out, to learn, to take something, to honour what people gave in their lives and commitment, and to see how that can inspire us and point us forward positively. It is a sign of huge issues in international relations, warfare and military and political leadership. Continue reading “Bishop of Derby on the role of chaplaincy in the First World War and ‘Woodbine Willie’.”