On 15th March 2021, the House of Lords debated the Domestic Abuse Bill in report. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
Votes: Domestic Abuse Bill
Tag: London
Votes: Domestic Abuse Bill
On 10th March 2021, the House of Lords debated the Domestic Abuse Bill in Report. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
Bishop of London asks about use of military barracks as asylum accommodation
The Bishop of London received the following written answer on 22nd February 2021:
The Lord Bishop of London asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to the outbreak of COVID-19 at Napier Barracks, what plans they have to end the use of such barracks as asylum accommodation; and if they have no such plans, what steps they intend to take to ensure (1) that social distancing measures are adhered to, and (2) that the dignity and freedom of residents is upheld.
Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about use of military barracks as asylum accommodation”Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of London supports amendment on provision of medical letters for abuse victims
On 8th February 2021, during a debate on the Domestic Abuse Bill, the Bishop of London spoke in support of an amendment tabled by Lord Kennedy of Southwark which would aim to prevent GPs who had a contract with the NHS from charging victims of domestic abuse for letters confirming their injuries which they would need in order to seek legal aid:
The Lord Bishop of London [V]: My Lords, I add my voice to this amendment simply because it should go without saying that some things need to be penned into law for there to be consistent access to justice. Amendment 161 has been tabled because it prevents GPs charging survivors of domestic abuse for letters which confirm injuries they have suffered—evidence which survivors need for their legal aid applications. The case for this amendment has been extremely well made by the noble Lord, Lord Kennedy, and the noble Baroness, Lady Bull. I agree with the statements they have made, so there is no need to add much to what has been said.
Continue reading “Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of London supports amendment on provision of medical letters for abuse victims”Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of London sponsors amendment on non-fatal strangulation
The Bishop of London spoke during a debate on the Domestic Abuse Bill on 3rd February 2021, supporting an amendment which would define the act of non-fatal strangulation in a domestic abuse context as an indictable offence and calling for a modernised response to domestic violence cases:
The Lord Bishop of London: My Lords, I thank noble Lords who have preceded me and those who will follow. I also thank the steady campaigners, researchers and wider members of civil society for their tenacity in bringing the issue of non-fatal strangulation to the forefront of the Bill. It is something so nuanced that, if addressed, it has the potential to change the trajectory of women’s lives post strangulation.
Researchers, lobbyists and specialist organisations alike have spent significant proportions of their lives trying to highlight the one thing that we all know to be true: that there is almost always more than meets the eye. That said, I am delighted to have heard that the Government are committed to addressing this issue, and it is good to have heard so many noble Lords speak in favour of the amendment at Second Reading and today.
Continue reading “Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of London sponsors amendment on non-fatal strangulation”Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of London supports amendments on protections for migrant victims of domestic abuse
The Bishop of London spoke in support of amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill intended to safeguard the data of migrant victims of domestic violence against use for immigration control on 1st February 2021:
The Lord Bishop of London [V]: My Lords, I add my voice to those of noble Lords who have welcomed this Bill. I thank the Minister for all her work in this area. As other noble Lords have already said, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the crime of domestic abuse, which affects more than 2 million people a year in the United Kingdom. However, the Bill continues to overlook one of the most vulnerable groups affected by this form of violence against women and girls—migrant women. I too will address Amendment 154, which calls for the Secretary of State to ensure that the personal data of victims of domestic abuse in the UK is processed only for the purpose of that person requesting or receiving support or assistance relating to domestic abuse, not for immigration control.
Government policy is clear that victims of crime should be treated without discrimination. Therefore, the separation of immigration enforcement and protection of domestic abuse victims who are migrant women must be delineated. Failure to do this puts migrant women at risk of a double jeopardy of danger from their abuser and fear of deportation. As has already been highlighted, the Istanbul convention, the landmark international treaty on violence against women and girls, which the Government have signed and are committed to ratifying, requires in Articles 5 and 59 that victims are protected regardless of their immigration status.
Continue reading “Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of London supports amendments on protections for migrant victims of domestic abuse”Votes: Trade Bill
On 6th January 2021, the House of Lords debated the Trade Bill. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of London urges measures to strengthen legislation
The Bishop of London spoke in a debate on the Domestic Abuse Bill on 5th January 2021, welcoming the bill while emphasising the need for legislation to go further in combatting domestic abuse:
The Lord Bishop of London [V]: My Lords, I will add my voice to those who have already welcomed this Bill while also, in the brief time I have, suggesting that still more could be done to strengthen it further. The legislation is long overdue. As others have mentioned, we know that the pandemic has only exacerbated an already dire situation that leaves far too many survivors of abuse without the protections and support they require.
Much in this Bill is welcome, yet I fully support the remarks of my right reverend friend the Bishop of Gloucester and others who have noted that it does not yet go far enough, particularly on children, young people and migrant women. It is a cliché to note that these count as some of society’s most vulnerable, but this Bill is meant precisely to provide support to those whom the system is currently failing. If it fails to support the most vulnerable survivors, it is not yet living up to its potential.
Continue reading “Domestic Abuse Bill: Bishop of London urges measures to strengthen legislation”Votes: EU (Future Relationship) Bill
On 30th December 2020 the House of Lords considered the Government’s European Union (Future Relationship) Bill at all stages. Three votes were held on the Bill, in which bishops took part:
Bishop of London asks about elderly domestic abuse during covid-19 lockdown
On 1st December 2020 the Bishop of London asked an oral question on research into facts about domestic abuse of older people during the Covid-19 lockdown:
The Lord Bishop of London [V] : My Lords, as the Minister has commented, at present, we only collect data on those aged between 60 and 74. While she is making a commitment to work with the ONS to collect data on those aged over 74, will she commit to removing this age limit so we can highlight the experience of this older demographic?Continue reading “Bishop of London asks about elderly domestic abuse during covid-19 lockdown”
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