On 28th February, Lord Alton of Liverpool asked the Government, in the light of the sanctions imposed by China against North Korea following the assassination of Kim Jong-nam and the recent ballistic missile test, whether they will call in the North Korean Ambassador. The Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question about the Government’s engagement with China over their policy to return North Korean refugees to the country. Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough asks whether Government is addressing China’s North Korean refugee policy”
Tag: Peterborough
Bishop of Peterborough says education system should ‘encourage a love of learning, not a fear of failure’
On 13th December, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Sharkey, asked Her Majesty’s Government “what assessment they have made of the United Kingdom’s performance in the latest Programme for International Student Assessment rankings published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development”. The Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Peterborough My Lords, is the Minister aware that, in a number of the countries that have much higher academic standards at secondary school level, particularly those in the Far East—I know the story of South Korea quite well—there is also a much higher suicide rate among teenagers? Does he agree that our schools need to help people learn in ways that they enjoy and are healthy holistically, and that schools should encourage a love of learning rather than a fear of failure?
Votes: Policing and Crime Bill
On 12th December 2016 four bishops took part in three votes on amendments to the Government’s Policing and Crime Bill at its Report Stage in the House of Lords. Continue reading “Votes: Policing and Crime Bill”
Church Commissioners’ Written Answer: Dean of Peterborough
On the 29th November 2016 Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, answered a written question regarding the retirement of the Dean of Peterborough.
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the appropriateness of procedures and practice relating to the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral standing down.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners’ Written Answer: Dean of Peterborough”
Church Commissioners Written Answer: Disposal of Land
On 1st November 2016 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, answered a written question from Stewart Jackson MP about progress towards disposing of Church land in Peterborough.
Continue reading “Church Commissioners Written Answer: Disposal of Land”
Division: Investigatory Powers Bill
On 11th October 2016 a vote took place on an Opposition amendment to the Government’s Investigatory Powers Bill, in which three bishops took part. Continue reading “Division: Investigatory Powers Bill”
Bishop of Peterborough supports move to find fairer mobility assessment criteria for disability benefit claimants
On 4th May 2016 Baroness Thomas of Winchester put a Motion to the House of Lords: “That this House calls on Her Majesty’s Government to hold urgent talks with Disability Rights UK and the Disability Benefits Consortium to identify a mobility criterion in the Personal Independence Payment “moving around” assessment which is fairer than the current 20 metre distance, in the light of the impact on reassessed disabled claimants and the resulting large number of successful appeals.” The Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Donald Allister, spoke in support of the Motion, which was subsequently passed by the House.
The Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, I support the noble Baroness, Lady Thomas of Winchester, and thank her for bringing this Motion before the House. I have a simple point to make.
The tick-box approach is rarely the right one. People are individuals and wherever possible should be treated as such. While it is clear that the 20-metre rule is too restrictive, setting a replacement figure, whether the old one of 50 metres or some other, is still arbitrary and a matter of ticking boxes instead of treating people as people. The high number of successful appeals, whatever the reasons, shows that the 20-metre rule simply does not work. Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough supports move to find fairer mobility assessment criteria for disability benefit claimants”
Divisions – Housing and Planning Bill
On 4th May 2016 a number of votes took place on the Government’s Housing and Planning Bill, as the House of Lords considered amendments made in the House of Commons. Bishops took part in the following Divisions of the House: Continue reading “Divisions – Housing and Planning Bill”
Bishop of Peterborough asks Government about plans to reduce prison suicides
On 3rd May 2016 Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames asked Her Majesty’s Government, “in the light of the latest figures on deaths in custody and prison violence, what plans they have to improve prison safety in the short term.” The Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, given the shocking 27% rise in suicides in prisons in the last year, what can the Minister tell us about the provision of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care for vulnerable prisoners? Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough asks Government about plans to reduce prison suicides”
Bishop of Peterborough – Government has moral duty to ensure public transparency over offshore tax arrangements
On 20th April 2016 Lord Wallace of Saltaire asked Her Majesty’s Government “what further discussions they have had with Overseas Territories since last year’s Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council about moves towards greater transparency of beneficial ownership for companies registered within their jurisdiction, in the light of the United Kingdom’s chairmanship of the International Anticorruption Summit in May 2016.” The Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Donald Allister, asked a follow up question:
The Lord Bishop of Peterborough: My Lords, while I acknowledge the good work done by the Government recently on this, does the Minister agree that public transparency is important not only in the fight against corruption but as a very significant moral issue? Does she agree that it is the duty of all Governments, including those of overseas territories, to work towards public transparency? Continue reading “Bishop of Peterborough – Government has moral duty to ensure public transparency over offshore tax arrangements”
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