Tag: Newcastle

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Bishop of Newcastle points out lack of safeguards in online processes

The Bishop of Newcastle spoke during the committee debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 30th January 2026, highlighting the lack of adequate safeguards in any online-only process for facilitating assisted dying:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, taken together, the amendments in this group highlight the importance of contact with people at the hardest time in their lives—a time when we must be most vulnerable, clinically and personally. This must not be a process in which anyone is made to feel rushed or that can be completed entirely online.

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Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Bishop of Newcastle raises issue of eligibility criteria comparisons

The Bishop of Newcastle spoke during a debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 23rd January 2026, pointing out the differences between the proposed eligibility criteria in the bill and the criteria used in Australia, in response to an earlier comparison of the two:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, in his opening remarks, the noble Lord, Lord Birt, cited Australia. I am sure that he is aware that no Australian jurisdiction is recognised as one of the 10 comparable jurisdictions in the Bill’s eligibility criteria and the Government’s impact assessment. The most comparable are New Zealand and the United States. This discussion was resolved in our Select Committee by receiving evidence from New Zealand. We need to be consistent and mindful of the Government’s impact assessment and ensure that our comments align with it.

Hansard

Bishop of Newcastle speaks in debate on retail and hospitality sector, highlighting challenges in the North-east

The Bishop of Newcastle spoke in a debate on government policy on the retail and hospitality sector on 22nd January 2026, highlighting the challenges faced by the sector in the North-east of England:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, it is a great honour to follow the noble Lord, Lord Forbes of Newcastle, and to welcome him to your Lordships’ House. I also extend a welcome to other noble Lords making their maiden speeches today.

I thank my friend, the noble Lord, Lord Forbes, for his excellent maiden speech. He made some immensely wise comments that superbly illustrate his capacity for, and commitment to, the work that he will undertake in this place. His mention of the values that have shaped his life are those that we should all aspire to and live out in our collective endeavours in this House. His calling our attention to the importance of inclusion is particularly vital.

The noble Lord’s years of dedicated service to local government and his commitment to creating thriving communities will greatly benefit this House. His lived experience, coupled with his kind heart, fierce mind and strong spirit, underpins his integrity, determination and resolve to seek the welfare of people and communities, especially those in deprivation. A keen listener and one who is ready to learn, he is well equipped for his new role in your Lordships’ House. I wish him well and look forward to working with him.

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about transport infrastructure in the North-east

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question on building infrastructure in the north-east of England on 19th January 2026, following a government statement on plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, I have spoken in the Chamber before about the Leamside line, which is a modest 21 miles of railway in the north-east. Would the noble Lord agree that it illustrates the disconnect between statement and construction timeline? Would it be worth considering prioritising projects such as the Leamside line in order to power up the northern powerhouse, particularly in the north-east, which sometimes feels on the edge of plans?

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about prevention of domestic violence against and between under-16s

The Bishop of Newcastle tabled a question on steps being taken to reduce domestic violence against children and prevent such behaviour being learned and repeated by those under 16 on 19th January 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce domestic violence against children, and prevent such behaviour being learned and repeated by those under 16.

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about regional transportation

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question about investment in regional transport in the UK on 21st October 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, in the north-east we rejoice at the success of the reinstated Northumberland line, linking Ashington to Newcastle, which has seen over 700,000 journeys since the line was reopened last December. However, the route struggles with a lack of carriages, and the company would like to put more trains on. Can I ask the Minister whether the strategy will seek to prioritise regions in our country which have traditionally been underinvested in, so as to fast-forward the economic growth the Government so desire?

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about secondary education

The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answer on 13th October 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the increasing A Level attainment gap between the North East and London and what steps they are taking to reduce this gap.

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about recent report on access to services in rural areas

The Bishop of Newcastle received the following written answers on 19th September 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Rural England’s State of Rural Services 2025 report and what steps they are taking to improve access to services in rural areas.

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Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Bishop of Newcastle supports further scrutiny of bill

The Bishop of Newcastle spoke at the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on 12th September 2025, touching on her experience of the assisted dying debate in New Zealand and flaws in this legislation:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, this is not the first country in which I have lived and worked during such a debate as this. I was a Bishop in New Zealand ahead of the referendum on a similar Bill there five years ago. I witnessed the arguments, heard the reassurances and have since followed its implementation, including the pressures on healthcare professionals and the unforeseen consequences from a lack of clarity around process.

Only recently, New Zealand published its five-year review of the Act, highlighting significant practical challenges, concluding that the review committee is ineffective as an oversight body and recommending reforms. Five years on from the passing of a Bill much like the one before us, it would be irresponsible not to take its findings seriously. Most strikingly, the report highlights confused principles for the service and even recommends that the New Zealand Government establish specific principles to underpin the Act. This is no small matter—to be five years into providing the service without clarity on the principles on which it was built. For legislation where the consequences of poor drafting are so high, it is alarming that such principles were not defined from the outset. Yet, almost a year into the passage of this Private Member’s Bill, we are still discussing core concepts, without sufficient detail on how a state-sponsored suicide service would be implemented. That should trouble us all.

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about methods of crime prevention for young people

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question on development of Young Futures Hubs on 24th July 2025, during a discussion on their potential to improve crime prevention and the need to ensure equality of access to the service:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: My Lords, it is important that the Young Futures hubs are developed in such a way that they respond to the distinct challenges in different local contexts. How do the Government intend to work with and consult young people from different regions of the UK to help shape and develop these important services?

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