Tag: Durham

Bishop of Durham asks about EU settlement scheme

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answers on 13th July 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government whether European Economic Area nationals who apply late to the EU Settlement Scheme will be permitted to have the right to work and rent while their applications are pending.

Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con, Home Office): From 1 July, right to work and right to rent checks will change and EEA citizens will be required to demonstrate eligibility through evidence of their immigration status, rather than their nationality.

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Bishop of Durham asks about healthcare costs for EU nationals resident in the UK

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 8th July 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government whether EU nationals living in the UK before 31 December 2020 and who go on to be granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme will be liable for chargeable healthcare as set out in NHS Charging Regulations guidance or whether they are entitled to free healthcare.

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Bishop of Durham: why are bishops in the Lords?

It is an extraordinary responsibility to attend Parliament. As bishops, our faith compels us to raise questions with those in power about people on the margins, children, the voiceless, the many attacks on human rights abroad, and solutions to the climate emergency.

We are not there to simply defend the interests of the established church, or speak only for people of faith, but to play our own part in holding our elected powers to account on behalf of those who need us most, and help the process of making better law.

We have been at the forefront of recent campaigns in Parliament on justice for leaseholders facing fire safety costs, on prison reform, welfare of migrants and refugees, and on harms caused by gambling.

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Bishop of Durham asks about child poverty

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 7th June 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to the latest Households Below Average Income release, published on 25 March:

  • what steps they are taking to address the rising number of children in relative poverty.
  • what steps they are taking to support larger families living in poverty.
  • how they plan to address the rise in child poverty in the North East of England.
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Bishop of Durham asks about access to nature for children

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 7th June 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all children, not only those at a crisis point, have access to nature.

Lord Benyon (Con, DEFRA): Defra recognises the crucial importance of having good access to green spaces for health and well-being. The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our comprehensive and long-term approach to protecting and enhancing our natural landscapes in England for the next generation, and to helping people improve their health and wellbeing by connecting with nature.

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Bishop of Durham asks about Windrush Lessons Learned Review

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answer on 7th June 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked Her Majesty’s Government whether, as part of their Comprehensive Improvement Plan in response to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, they have a stated aim to increase case escalation where there are ethical considerations.

Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con, Home Office): The ethical decision making model, developed in response to Recommendation 17 of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review, is designed to support staff to flag possible unintended consequences to ensure that services and policies are delivered in the way that Ministers intended.

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Bishop of Durham asks about education on nature and biodiversity

The Bishop of Durham received the following written answers on 7th June 2021:

The Lord Bishop of Durham asked her Majesty’s government, further to the report commissioned by the Treasury The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review, published on 2 February, what steps they are taking to ensure that all children understand how nature contributes to the UK economy.

Baroness Berridge (Con, DfE): The department is currently working with Her Majesty’s Treasury to contribute to a full response to the Dasgupta Review.

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Bishop of Durham asks Government to include faith and voluntary sector in new coronavirus inquiry

On 13th May 2021 the House of Lords heard the repeat of a Government statement on a Coronavirus Inquiry.

The Lord Bishop of Durham: The pandemic has highlighted the vital role that the faith and voluntary sectors play in our society, particularly in the poorest communities, but initially our engagement was not as well done as it could possibly have been. Will the Minister comment on how the Government intend to include the faith and voluntary sectors in the inquiry so that their role is guaranteed in the future?

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Bishop of Durham asks about security of local jobs following Hitachi train defects

On 13th May 2021 the House of Lords considered the recent train delays caused by defects in the Hitachi stock.

The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I declare an interest as a regular LNER user—indeed, I experienced disruption to the service on my trip down from Darlington. While it is essential that the defects are addressed, I am very aware of the jobs and investment brought to County Durham by Hitachi. Can the Minister confirm that this issue will not impact the investment in the region and the security of the jobs?

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Queen’s Speech – Bishop of Durham on children, young people and immigration

On 12th May 2021 the House of Lords debated the Queen’s Speech. The Bishop of Durham spoke, focusing on its impact on children and young people, and on the proposals for immigration.

“My Lords, it is a privilege to be the first to speak from these Benches on Her Majesty’s gracious Speech. I look forward to the valedictory speech of my colleague, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Portsmouth, who has served the House so well during his years as a Lord spiritual. I also look forward to the maiden speeches of the noble Baroness, Lady Blake, and the noble Lord, Lord Lebedev.

“I make my comments within a very specific framework: are the measures contained in the gracious Speech good for the children and young people of our land? At the outset of her tenure as Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza commented: ‘I want to see childhood right at the top of the Government agenda. That means every speech from the Prime Minister and Chancellor mentioning children, and every Government department constantly pushing to improve the lives of children’— so it was good to hear a range of references to children. Having the best start in life by prioritising early years is essential. There is no debate any longer that the months in the womb and the first 1,001 days of a child’s life are absolutely critical to lifetime development. Much deeper investment in all aspects of early years well-being—mental, physical, social and spiritual—is essential.

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