The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 3rd December 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Budget’s changes to agricultural property relief from inheritance tax on the mental health of farming families who own small farms.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about impact of changes to agricultural property relief on farming families”The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on the importance of the rule of law on 26th November 2024, highlighting the intersection of the rule of law with faith communities and the need to uphold human rights legislation, particularly with regards to immigration and asylum:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Smith, for bringing this debate forward and congratulate her on her outstanding maiden speech. I also congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Laing of Elderslie, on hers.
While I feel an utter novice in this area, especially following such informed speeches, I am acutely aware that your Lordships have a role in reviewing decisions of the General Synod of the Church of England and passing—or not—our Measures into law. As such, our ecclesiastical laws are also laws of the land. The Church of England values its participation in this process, and, by virtue of that, engaging with any debate on the rule of law that strengthens the ordering of a safe, healthy and flourishing society.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich highlights importance of rule of law for faith and society”The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 25th November 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Budget’s changes to agricultural property relief from inheritance tax on nature conservation on small farms.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about effects of inheritance tax on farmers”The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on the costs of renewable energy on 14th November 2024, highlighting the threat to the environment posed by global warming and the global responsibilities associated with transitioning to renewables:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Frost, for securing this debate at the time of COP 29. It is a pleasure as always to follow on from the wise words of the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman. I speak as the lead Bishop for the environment and as a member of Peers for the Planet.
I would like to ensure that there is reflection in this debate on the cost of not embracing renewable energy, especially as a global neighbour. Under even the most optimistic scenarios, the planet will experience warming above 1.5 degrees. The predictions for people and planet are stark. Ours is the generation that simply must move off our reliance on fossil fuels and embrace a new, cleaner, more resilient energy future.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich speaks in debate on cost of renewable energy”The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 30th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what their policy is for licensed but undeveloped sites for offshore oil and gas drilling, and whether they plan to implement a moratorium on issuing of development consents for those sites.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about offshore oil and gas industry”The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 18th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to publish the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, in accordance with the commitment of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference Canada in 2022, before COP 16 starts in Colombia on 21 October.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about biodiversity strategy”The Bishop of Norwich asked a question on ensuring provision of supplies to Gaza’s al-Ahli Hospital on 16th October 2024, following a government statement on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, just over a year ago I was in Gaza, three days before Hamas’s evil attacks, visiting the Anglican-run al-Ahli hospital. Today that hospital is the only functioning hospital in northern Gaza, but it is weeks since it has been supplied. What are His Majesty’s Government doing to ensure that healthcare supplies are getting into Gaza and in particular that al-Ahli hospital, which is doing the incredible work of healing, is supplied?
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about provision of healthcare supplies into Gaza”The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 16th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of introducing a minimum floor for Universal Credit so that benefit deductions and the benefit cap do not push people into financial hardship.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich asks about support for low income households”The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on a report from the environment and climate change committee on 11th September 2024, emphasising the need to protect and safeguard the natural environment:
The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I believe that restoring land and sea for nature is a crucial part of our response to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. It is a great privilege to follow four outstanding speakers, real heroes of the environment, particularly for the environment in this nation. It is indeed an extraordinary challenge that we face, but one that I hope we can rise to.
The report contains many excellent recommendations. I commend the noble Lords on the Select Committee who have taken evidence, distilled it and brought us a report containing so much clarity and wisdom. It is imperative that the regulation of habitat protection is retained and strengthened to make sure that protected land is truly being managed for nature. Alongside that, and ultimately far more effective, is for those who own and manage land or use the sea to have a great pride for the natural world in their stewardship and for society at large to value nature. I see the beginnings of a positive change in that regard, as more and more landowners, tenants and people who work the land and the sea recognise our negative impact on the environment and notice the silenced song of creation in so many places.
Continue reading “Bishop of Norwich takes part in debate on report from Environment and Climate Change Committee”
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