On 22nd October 2024, the Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the causal correlation between poverty and absenteeism from school:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, is there any causal correlation between poverty, particularly in the wake of the cost of living crisis, and absenteeism from school?
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about link between poverty and absenteeism from school”On 22nd October 2024, the Bishop of Leeds spoke at the third reading of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill, thanking the Government and the House for their support:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, I think it is down to me to thank the Government. All the other Bishops are at a House of Bishops residential elsewhere. I thank the Government for taking this on and thank those who contributed to the debate at different stages. This is a mechanism to allow us to make the progress which we need to make more quickly. I am grateful to the Government and the House for their support.
Continue reading “Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill: Bishop of Leeds thanks Government and the House for support”
The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 15th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to increase infant and child vaccination levels in the north of England.
Baroness Merron (Lab, DHSC): In England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with NHS England, the Department and wider health system partners to improve uptake of the routine childhood immunisations and catch-up children who missed out.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about steps to increase infant and child vaccination in the North of England”The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 14th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report Infant Mortality in England published by Health Equity North in August; and what assessment they have made of the ethnic disparities in infant mortality rates in England set out in that report.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about ethnic disparities in infant mortality rates”The Bishop of Leeds took part in a debate on the current conflict in Sudan on 13th September 2024, noting the escalating impact of the conflict and the need for the international community to act to save lives in the country:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, it is always a daunting honour to follow the noble Lord, Lord Alton, and the previous speakers. Like them, I have some considerable experience of Sudan, having been there a number of times and had dealings not just at the political level but on the ground, among very real and ordinary communities. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Collins, for securing this debate.
Behind the statistics, there are human beings and stories; 25 million people going hungry could be just a number until you look individuals in the eye. Dig a little deeper and the whole situation in Sudan is much more complicated than simply two generals having a scrap. What we can say with confidence is this: military violence, including the bombing of children, women and ordinary civilians, is appalling. It is often indiscriminate, especially when unleashed by the RSF in what increasingly looks like deliberate and intentional genocide in parts of Sudan. A humanitarian catastrophe has exploded in plain sight of the world and its Governments, with food shortages; the closing down of access for humanitarian aid from neighbouring countries; famine; malnutrition; and a generation of children who are being starved, made homeless and given no medical care or education.
As the director of the World Food Programme told us at the APPG, as was referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Alton:
“Avoidable famine is no longer a threat—it is a reality now”.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds takes part in debate on the current situation in Sudan, urging international action to address humanitarian concerns”The Bishop of Leeds tabled a question on government plans to intensify military support for Ukraine on 12th September 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to accelerate and intensify military support for Ukraine.
Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab, FCDO): My Lords, UK support for Ukraine is ironclad, and that is why we are stepping up military aid to Ukraine. We are ramping up and speeding up delivery of military support for Ukraine. On Friday, the Defence Secretary announced that the UK would provide Ukraine with 650 lightweight multi-role missiles. Operation Interflex, which has trained 45,000 Ukrainian troops, will extend through 2025. Additionally, yesterday he confirmed that military support announced in April is on track for delivery.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about UK military support for Ukraine”On 11th September 2024, the Bishop of Leeds asked a question on the government’s road investment strategy and the need to look at things holistically alongside public transport development:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, the answers we have had so far, which are welcome, refer to future strategy in terms of economics and finance, but there is another element that this Government have built into their programme, which is making long-term decisions. Is any future road strategy being looked at holistically in relation to public transport development? They cannot run in separate grooves.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about road investment and public transport strategies”The Bishop of Leeds asked a question on plans to revitalise the transport network in the North of England on 23rd July 2024, particularly regarding rail connectivity:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, one of the mysteries of HS2 was that you could get to places like Leeds 16 minutes quicker, but you could not get anywhere else when you got there because of deficiencies in the northern network. What confidence can we have that any other plans that come forward will be realised and improve the situation in the north?
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about plans to improve the transport network in the North of England”During the King’s Speech debate on 22nd July 2024, the Bishop of Leeds gave a speech on the topic of the economy, expressing admiration for the government’s ambition and commitment to a long term view, and raising issues affecting the economy in the North of England:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, I am not an economist, but I care deeply about the economy. I shall limit myself to a couple of observations, and I am sure that I can save a few minutes in the length of the debate.
First, I welcome the Minister and thank him for his illuminating and articulate speech. I admire the new Government’s ambitions, but I worry a bit that there is too much. Holding all this together in a coherent development framework will be challenging beyond words, but I wish the Government well in doing it.
Continue reading “King’s Speech Debate: Bishop of Leeds raises issues effecting the economy in the North of England”The Bishop of Leeds received the following written answer on 23rd May 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to secure guarantees from Sudan’s warring parties for the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about provision of humanitarian aid to Sudan”
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