Tag: foreign affairs

Bishop of Coventry asks the Government about imprisoned Baha’i in Yemen

Official_portrait_of_The_Lord_Bishop_of_Coventry_crop_2,_2019On 12th May the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, received a written answer from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon to a question on Hamed bin Haydara and five other Yemeni Baha’i, currently imprisoned.

Bishop of Coventry: HL3684 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations, if any, they have made to President Mahdi al Mashat that the pardon for Hamed bin Haydara and five other Yemeni Baha’i, and their release from jail, be expedited.

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Bishop of Coventry asks Government what support they will give to those who depend on food aid during pandemic

Official_portrait_of_The_Lord_Bishop_of_Coventry_crop_2,_2019On 12th May the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, received a written answer to a question from Baroness Sugg on what steps the Government is taking to ensure those around the world dependent on humanitarian assistance for food are supported.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: HL3766 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to help people around the world who are dependent on humanitarian assistance for food, particularly in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Bishop of Coventry asks Government about deportation of migrant workers by Saudi Arabia

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On 12th May the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, received a written answer from Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon to a question on the Government’s response to the deportation of 30,000 Ethiopian migrant workers by the Saudi Arabian authorities.

Lord Bishop of Coventry: HL3686 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Saudi Arabia’s decision to deport 30,000 Ethiopian migrant workers, including some who are suspected of suffering from COVID-19.

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Bishop of Coventry asks Government what they are doing to support religious minorities in countries affected by Covid-19

Official_portrait_of_The_Lord_Bishop_of_Coventry_crop_2,_2019On 12th May the Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry received a written answer to a question on what Government was doing to ensure humanitarian assistance reached religious minorities.

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: HL3767 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that religious minorities in countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have equal access to humanitarian assistance.

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Bishop of Worcester asks Government about transmission of Covid-19 by UK military personnel in Africa

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On 11th May 2020 the Bishop of Worcester, Rt Revd John Inge, received a written answer to a question on the transmission of COVID-19 to civilians among UK military personnel and staff deployed in Africa.

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: HL3572 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have put in place to deal with the potential transmission of COVID-19 to civilians among UK military personnel and staff deployed to UN peacekeeping missions in Africa.

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Archbishop of Canterbury asks about support for UN call for global ceasefire

On 6th May 2020 Lord Oates asked the Government “what support they are providing to African countries in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Revd Justin Welby, asked a follow-up question:

The Archbishop of Canterbury: My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of the Secretary-General of the UN’s High-level Advisory Board on Mediation. What specific steps are the Government taking to support the very successful call for a global ceasefire as it applies to sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among those countries that already have some kind of ceasefire in place, to support the mediation and peace process? I am of course referring to the Secretary-General’s call. Continue reading “Archbishop of Canterbury asks about support for UN call for global ceasefire”

Bishop of Coventry raises arrests of democracy activists in Hong Kong

On 6th May 2020 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received a written answer on the mass arrests of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: HL3685 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of China regarding the mass arrests of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong on 18 April.

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Bishop of Coventry asks about impact of coronavirus on refugees in Syria and worldwide

On 30th April and 4th May 2020 the Bishop of Coventry, Rt Revd Christopher Cocksworth, received written answers to questions on refugees in Syria and around the world and vulnerability to coronavirus:

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: HL3255 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to limit the vulnerability of refugees around the world to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “Bishop of Coventry asks about impact of coronavirus on refugees in Syria and worldwide”

Bishop of St Albans raises potential Covid-19 humanitarian crisis in Syria

On 30th April 2020 during a virtual sitting of the House of Lords, the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked a question he had tabled about the situation in Idlib, Syria. The response, his follow-up and other questions from Members is reproduced below:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the ongoing conflict in Idlib, Syria.

The Question was considered in a Virtual Proceeding via video call.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con): My Lords, we welcome the ongoing ceasefire in Idlib and call on all sides to abide by their obligations under the Russia-Turkey agreement of 5 March and to heed UN envoy Pedersen’s calls for a permanent, nationwide cessation of hostilities. We also remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Idlib, with 846,000 people still displaced and at high risk of Covid-19. We have therefore further increased our humanitarian response.

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: I am grateful to the Minister for his response but, with 84 hospitals destroyed, some commentators are suggesting that in Idlib alone 100,000 people are at risk of coronavirus. What are Her Majesty’s Government doing to ensure that we have medical equipment, particularly ventilators, in that country to prevent what could be another humanitarian crisis?

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Bishop of Carlisle asks Government about persecution of Falun Gong in China

On 23rd March 2020 the Bishop of Carlisle, Rt Revd James Newcome, received a written answer to a question on the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China:

The Lord Bishop of Carlisle: HL2425 To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the government of China’s persecution of Falun Gong practitioners has not been referenced in relation to their proposals for a new Magnitsky-style sanctions regime.

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