The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answer on 5th September 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan regarding the cases of (1) Qaisar Ayub, and (2) Amoon Ayub, who have been imprisoned and sentenced to death for blasphemy.
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about blasphemy laws in Pakistan”The Bishop of Manchester received the following written answer on 5th September 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester asked Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure an (1) adequate, and (2) diverse, supply of food for those of (a) Orthodox Jewish faith, and (b) other faiths, in Northern Ireland.
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about food supply to Northern Ireland”On 7th July 2022 the House of Lords debated a motion from the Earl of Clancarty, “To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve the ability of musicians and other creative professionals from the United Kingdom to work and tour in the European Union.”
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, like others, I thank the noble Earl for bringing us this debate. Noble Lords would expect a Bishop of Manchester to be passionate about music. Our vibrant popular and contemporary music scene is central to our local economy. The Royal Northern College of Music is one of our universities and we also have the leading music school for the north of England in Chetham’s, whose campus is next door to my cathedral and provides many of our choristers. We recently dedicated a brand-new, £2 million cathedral organ. It was the donation of a single—as it happens, Jewish—businessman, Sir Norman Stoller. Our music matters to us in Manchester. We invest in it and in the diverse young people developing their skills in it. It is a great force for levelling up.
Continue reading “Church “has been levelling up the arts for centuries”: Bishop of Manchester on support for arts and music”On 4th July 2022 the House of Lords heard the repeat of a statement made by the Prime Minister in the Commons, on the Commonwealth Heads of Government, G7 and NATO meetings.
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, we on these Benches support Her Majesty’s Government in their response to President Putin’s invasion, as I am sure will our General Synod which is debating the matter this weekend. Aggression must not be rewarded. My right reverend friend the Bishop of St Albans has previously assured this House that the Church stands ready to use its reach and connections to pave the way to a solution, and we also stand ready to use our extensive links to humanitarian organisations.
May I therefore ask the Minister to expand on what is being done to ensure UK aid support reaches all those who need it, particularly through the informal volunteer groups, which have so far received only 0.24%—less than £1 in every £400—of direct donations, and to consider how faith organisations, including the Church, can pay their full part?
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester affirms support for action against Putin and role of church and faiths in aid effort”On 4th July 2022, the House of Lords Considered amendments to the UK Infrastructure Bank bill. A Bishop took part in two votes:
On 27th April 2022, the House of Lords debated further amendments to the Elections Bill following Commons amendments. A vote was held on one amendment, in which a Bishop took part.
The Bishop of Manchester asked the following question on 27th April 2022, during a debate on energy security:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I declare my interest as both a Church Commissioner and a board member of a housing association. As things stand, a community with local renewable generation is not allowed to sell the energy it generates directly to local people. Instead, it has to sell it to a utility, which sells it on to customers, creating disproportionate costs. Moreover, community-level generation could be further promoted by ensuring that new housing developments include green energy or even a requirement that they place no increased demand on the grid by generating more of their energy needs. The Bible assures us that the sun shines on both the righteous and the unrighteous. Indeed, I can assure the Minister that it does so even in my notoriously rainy city of Manchester. Can he outline what will be done to promote greater take-up of community energy generation programmes?
Continue reading “Bishop of Manchester asks about energy generation”On 27th April 2022, the House of Lords debated amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill. A vote was held on an amendment, in which two Bishops took part.
On 26th April 2022, the House of Lords debated Commons amendments to the Building Safety Bill, and a vote took place on amendments, in which a Bishop took part:
On 26th April 2022, the House of Lords Debated amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill, and votes took place on amendments in which Bishops took part:
The Church of England in Parliament 
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