Tag: Norwich

Bishop of Norwich highlights work of the CofE Pensions Board during debate on historic mining pollution

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on the UK’s responsibility to address historic mining pollution in former British colonies on 8th January 2026, detailing the work of the Church of England Pensions Board in this area:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for his excellent introduction, because stories touch both the heart and the mind, harrowing as those stories of the people of Kabwe were that he shared with your Lordships.

This debate is timely because of the geopolitical tensions that we face currently, many of them connected to minerals needed to power our economies today as well as the economy of the future. Although much of the attention is focused on new mineral deposits, a key issue that is deeply relevant to the whole mining sector is how the legacy is addressed. Many companies that existed in the past no longer exist or have been subsumed into very different entities today. Some of these are still listed on the London Stock Exchange and therefore still have a relationship with their historic legacy, while others do not. The consequence is that many countries to which the UK has historic ties have legacy mine sites that can be anything from waste from a site, such as tailings waste, through to the old mine site itself.

Through the Church of England Pensions Board, which is a £3.6 billion pension fund serving the long-term interests of 44,000 members who have been members of the clergy or otherwise working for the Church, the role of mining has been a particular focus in recent years. The board recognises the systemic importance of mining to many of the other sectors upon which modern life depends and which the board is also invested in, such as aviation, shipping, construction, autos, technology and energy, to name but a few. But a particular focus of the board’s work has been on this issue of legacy, particularly related to mine waste, often contained in tailings dams, which, if not managed correctly, can cause significant social and environmental impacts. We have seen major disasters such as at Brumadinho in Brazil, killing 272 people, and at Jagersfontein in South Africa, killing two people and causing significant environmental damage.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about inclusion of civil society and faith organisations in path to net zero

The Bishop of Norwich tabled a question on government steps to include civil society and faith-based organisations in work to reach net zero emissions by 2050 on 8th January 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to include civil society and faith-based organisations in work to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Lord Whitehead (Lab, DESNZ): Our recently published Energising Britain plan sets out how we will work with communities so that everyone can benefit from our clean energy superpower mission. It highlights how we are already engaging people and local organisations to design and deliver climate and nature policies that reflect people’s needs and views. The plan also outlines new ways to collaborate, including an annual “Energising Britain” event and the Youth for Climate and Nature panel.

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Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on ocean pollution

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in support of amendments to the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill aimed at responding to risks of plastic pollution in oceans and protection of deep seabed environments on 16th December 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I support Amendments 6, 8 and 10. I pay tribute to the Minister for the commitment that she is giving to the Bill. It is absolutely right that we align ourselves with the treaty and are able to be participants at the first Conference of the Parties. I thank her for the thoroughness with which she is going through it.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about extension of oil and gas extraction in the North Sea

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 16th December 2025:

The Bishop of Norwich: To ask His Majesty’s Government how the proposed extension of existing gas and oil drilling in the North Sea aligns with calls arising from the Global Stocktake to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, as recommended by the Climate Change Committee.

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Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendments on impact of bill in border regions

On 12th December 2025, Bishop of Norwich spoke in support of amendments to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill focused on ensuring training and resources given to GPs would also apply to Scotland in the event of the bill passing, and consideration of those living on the Scottish border:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I support Amendments 17 and 309A, proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Beith, and so ably explained by the noble Baroness, Lady Fraser. I declare an interest, in that my wife is a GP and a medical examiner—so the Bill has had much discussion at home.

Having spent 10 years living in Northumberland, and having friends who live along the Scottish border, I know that many of those living sufficiently close to the border have chosen very deliberately to be registered with a Scottish GP because they then receive free prescriptions. This raises a number of questions for the noble and learned Lord.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about environmental concerns on flooding and marshland

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 12th December 2025:

The Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have for legislation to make it mandatory for insurance companies to provide flood cover at an affordable and fair price, to supersede the temporary Flood Re scheme.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about education on harmful online materials

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on the role of Ofsted’s new education framework in facilitating education on harmful online materials on 4th December 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, given the Church of England’s role in education, I welcome the age limits introduced for harmful material sites. However, it is very hard to police the use of VPNs, and thus education is likely to be needed in a great deal of cases, as well as enforcement. What role will Ofsted’s new framework play in ensuring that statutory relationships, sex and health education is delivered effectively with regard to this matter?

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Bishop of Norwich asks about language used in COP environmental pledges

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on altering of language used regarding the transition away from fossil fuels during a discussion on COP 30 on 3rd December 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his comments. I pay tribute to Secretary of State Miliband for his sheer commitment working towards COP 30—building, let us not forget, on the work that the previous Government achieved, led particularly by the noble Lords, Lord Sharma and Lord Goldsmith. Those were Conservative commitments.

However, I note that in the language around coal and fossil fuels at successive COPs, there has been a great weakening, from the “phasing out” of Glasgow through “phasing down” to “transitioning away” and now to a weak plan and pathway. It was St Basil the Great who spoke about us always having two different paths,

“one broad and easy, the other hard and narrow”,

and that within our minds we are always working out which path to take. Basil said:

“The soul is confused and dithers in its calculations. It prefers pleasure when it is looking at the present; it chooses virtue when its eye is on eternity”.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about special educational needs and disabilities provision

The Bishop of Norwich asked about the need for other educational provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities, during a discussion on SEND budget funding on 3rd December 2025:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, does the Minister agree that, when there is not enough support for SEND pupils in a classroom, it has a major impact on other pupils in the classroom and on teachers themselves, some of whom are leaving the profession because of the stresses they are under? Does the Minister agree that sometimes it is in other educational provision, such as forest school and play, that these children can really thrive?

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Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill: Bishop of Norwich urges action to protect marine environments

The Bishop of Norwich spoke at the second reading of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill on 2nd December 2025, supporting the legislation and urging the government to act to protect marine environments:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I plan to speak in favour of the Bill before your Lordships’ House at Second Reading, but first I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Whitehead, on his maiden speech. My first recollection of Southampton was visiting the Royal Research Ship “Bransfield” before it departed for the Antarctic. As a 10 year-old, it was so exciting to explore that ship before it travelled to some of the harshest high seas on the planet.

The world’s oceans support biodiversity, regulate climate, store carbon, sustain global food webs, and provide critical genetic and biological resources. Protecting them is vital not only for ocean health but for the stability and well-being of the entire planet. I thus thank the Minister, the noble Lord, Lord Whitehead, together with the noble Baroness, Lady Chapman, for bringing this Bill and for seeking its speedy but well-scrutinised passage so that the UK can have a seat at the first Conference of the Parties to the UN BBNJ.

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