On 22nd April 2024, the House of Lords debated Commons Reasons and Amendments to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, and votes were held on further amendments, in which bishops took part:
During a debate on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill on 22nd April 2024, the Bishop of Derby, on behalf of the Bishop of Manchester, spoke in opposition to clause 28 standing part of the bill, as it would have adverse affects on great estate areas such as the Hyde Park Estate:
The Lord Bishop of Derby: My Lords, I will speak in support of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Manchester, who is unable to be in his place today and who has asked me to speak to his opposition that Clause 28 stand part of the Bill. This is linked to a similar stand-part debate, in the name of my right reverend friend, relating to Clause 47, to be debated later in Committee.
I declare my interest as a beneficiary, as is my diocese, of the Church Commissioners. I thank the Minister for her engagement with the charities affected by the legislation so far: the Church Commissioners, John Lyon’s Charity, Portal Trust, Campden Charities, Merchant Taylors’ Boone’s Charity, Dulwich Estate and the London Diocesan Fund. I hope she will continue to engage with my right reverend friend to find an amicable solution.
Continue reading “Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill: Bishop of Derby opposes clause affecting estate areas”
The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 10th January 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for allowing local authorities to set their own right-to-buy discounts to reflect local circumstances.
Baroness Penn (Con, Department for Levelling-up, Housing & Communities): The Government remains committed to the Right to Buy, which has helped over 2 million social housing tenants to become homeowners.
Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about allowing local authorities to set right-to-buy rates”The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 19th December 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the additional support required for social housing landlords as a result of the consumer regulation measures announced by the Regulator of Social Housing, including the Tenant Satisfaction Measures Standard, which are to be implemented from April 2024.
Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about support for social housing landlords”Th Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 27th November 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of careers advice in increasing the number of apprenticeships taken on.
Baroness Barran (Con, Department for Education): There is encouraging evidence that careers advice is increasing young people’s awareness of apprenticeships and other technical options. In the 2022/23 academic year, 92% of schools reported that most students had information about the full range of apprenticeships. 86% of schools reported that most students had meaningful encounters with further education colleges. In a 2021/22 survey of 35,000 young people, responses show that awareness of apprenticeships doubles from 39% in year 7 to 81% by year 11.
Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about role of careers advice in numbers of apprenticeships taken on”The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 24th October 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government, following the Children’s Society’s The Good Childhood Report 2023, published on 20 September, what steps the Department of Health and Social Care’s Major Conditions Strategy will take to prevent poor mental health and promote wellbeing in children and young people.
Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about mental health services for young people”The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 10th July 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government what are the levels of youth unemployment in the most recent period for which data are available.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con):The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.
Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about levels of youth unemployment”The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 17th May 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government how many children are being held on remand in the most recent period for which data is available; and whether they are taking steps to reduce this.
Lord Bellamy (Con, Ministry of Justice): As at 31 March 2023, there were 244 children and young people remanded to custody in the Youth Secure Estate (this figure includes 18-year-olds). Remanding a child to custody must always be a last resort, however that option must remain open to the courts where it is necessary to protect the public.
Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks about numbers of children remanded in custody”On 27th April 2023, the House of Lords debated the Online Safety Bill in committee. The Bishop of Guildford spoke on behalf of the Bishop of Derby on amendments to the bill that she had tabled concerning protection of children from exploitation and trafficking:
The Lord Bishop of Guildford: My Lords, I will speak to Amendments 128, 130 and 132, as well as Amendments 143 to 153 in this grouping. They were tabled in the name of my right reverend colleague the Bishop of Derby, who is sorry that she cannot be here today.
The Church of England is the biggest provider of youth provision in our communities and educates around 1 million of our nation’s children. My colleague’s commitment to the principles behind these amendments also springs from her experience as vice chair of the Children’s Society. The amendments in this grouping are intended to strengthen legislation on online grooming for the purpose of child criminal exploitation, addressing existing gaps and ensuring that children are properly protected. They are also intended to make it easier for evidence of children being groomed online for criminal exploitation to be reported by online platforms to the police and the National Crime Agency.
Research from 2017 shows that one in four young people reported seeing illicit drugs advertised for sale on social media—a percentage that is likely to be considerably higher six years on. According to the Youth Endowment Fund in 2022, 20% of young people reported having seen online content promoting gang membership in the preceding 12 months, with 24% reporting content involving the carrying, use or promotion of weapons.
Continue reading “Online Safety Bill: Bishop of Guildford speaks in favour of amendments on child protection”The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 17th March 2023:
The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government when the pilot trial changes to Youth Rehabilitation Orders with Intensive Supervision and Surveillance will commence; and when they will report on their findings.
Continue reading “Bishop of Derby asks when changes to Youth Rehabilitation Orders will commence”
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