Norwich – The Church of England in Parliament

Bishop of Norwich joins tributes to departing Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords

On 13th May 2026, the Bishop of Norwich joined in tributes to the departing Senior Deputy Speaker, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, and in welcoming the new Senior Deputy Speaker, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, during the first day of the new parliamentary session:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, to stand on behalf of these Benches in support of the Motion from the noble Baroness the Lord Privy Seal and to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Ponsonby, on his appointment.

It is also a pleasure to thank, on behalf of these Benches, the former Senior Deputy Speaker, the noble Lord, Lord Gardiner. Newbies have been enormously grateful for the warmth of his welcome to those of us on these Benches and for his gentle guidance when learning the procedures of your Lordships’ House, such as the nod, the smile, and the twinkle in the eyes that have meant to the unsure, “Yes, you’re next”. The noble Lord has been a steady and kindly presence, for which we are most grateful.

Bishop of Norwich asks about climate finance

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 28th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government whether they delivered their commitment to provide £11.6 billion of international climate finance between 2021–22 and 2025–26, including £3 billion to protect and restore ecosystems abroad.

Bishop of Norwich asks about environmental impact of current conflict in the Gulf

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 27th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact on the natural environment of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the recent conflict.

Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab, FCDO): No such assessment has been made.

Hansard

Bishop of Norwich asks about economic impact of current conflict in the Middle East

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on the impact of the current conflict in the Middle East, following a government statement on the economic impact of the situation on 26th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I welcome this Statement and join the Chancellor speaking in the other place in paying tribute to our Armed Forces. In particular, I welcome support for those families and households hardest hit; however, I share the concern of the noble Baroness, Lady Kramer, for small businesses, and extend that with a question around what we are doing to support the charitable sector: for example, from my recent experience, in the transport costs associated with food banks, in heating warm hubs and so on. We have a responsibility to care for those who care for others, and I ask what the Government are doing to support that work.

Bishop of Norwich asks about heart disease screenings

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 23rd March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government:

why patients on warfarin are expected to pay for a coagulometer to self-test International Normalised Ratio levels or use an NHS nurse appointment for monitoring.
what assessment they have made of the feasibility of making coagulometers available for loan to patients self-testing International Normalised Ratio levels on the same basis that blood glucose testing meters are available free to diabetics through the NHS.

Bishop of Norwich asks about methods of flood prevention

The Bishop of Norwich tabled a question on the benefits of peatland restoration for flood resilience and stability on 12th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of peatland restoration for flood resilience and nature recovery.

Bishop of Norwich responds to government statement on conflict in the Middle East

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in response to a government statement on the UK’s defence activities during the current conflict in the Middle East on 11th March 2026, raising the issue of conflicts elsewhere and the need to maintain focus on these alongside current events:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, as other Members of the House have done, I pay tribute to His Majesty’s Armed Forces. As the father of a soldier, I am acutely aware of what the families at Akrotiri in Cyprus are going through at the moment. I am sure they are being well supported by chaplains in the Armed Forces, just as many of the communities in the Gulf will be being supported by Anglican and other denomination chaplains serving in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. I am grateful to the Minister for the briefing that was given yesterday at the Ministry of Defence. I found it immensely helpful and it gave me assurance about the preparedness that had gone on over the last few weeks.

Bishop of Norwich asks about impact of tax policy on rural communities

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on the impact of changes to inheritance tax and future policy changes on rural communities during a discussion on the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive on 11th March 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: I keep hearing from farmers, particularly from small farms, about the impact of the fiasco of the changes in inheritance tax. Would the Minister give some reassurance that future policy changes will truly be rural-proofed? I declare an interest as this year’s president of the Royal Norfolk Show.

Bishop of Norwich asks about special educational needs

The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on whether dyscalculia would be included in the work of inclusion hubs on 10th March 2026, during a discussion on special educational needs:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for the answers she has given, but I will probe a bit further in two areas. Will dyscalculia be included in the core work of the inclusion hubs that are suggested as a requirement for all secondary schools in the schools White Paper? To what extent will the newly announced “experts at hand” funding specifically be used to address support for children with this condition?

Crime and Policing Bill: Bishop of Norwich supports amendment on protecting war memorials

During a debate on the Crime and Policing Bill on 9th March 2026, the Bishop of Norwich spoke in support of an amendment aimed at broadening the protections provided to war memorials under the provisions of the bill:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I support Amendment 370 in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Lord Blencathra. Across this nation, war memorials, often raised by public subscription of pennies here and tuppences there, stand to hold memories of those who gave their lives—sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, cousins and parents. They are carved in stone, metal, wood or marble. The Whipsnade Tree Cathedral in Bedfordshire is a living memorial planted by Edmond Blyth, a World War I veteran, to commemorate his friends who were lost. They are physical embodiments of sacrifice, courage and collective memory, often within the curtilage of parish churches, each name both precious to someone and precious in the sight of God—ordinary people called to do the most extraordinary things in very challenging times. When they are damaged, it is a hit in the stomach for the whole of that community. It damages how we build our life together.

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