Tag: Portsmouth

Bishop of Portsmouth asks if UK defence has a credibility and capability gap

On 15th September 2015 the Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Revd Christopher Foster, took part in a short debate led by Earl Howe on ‘The Role and Capabilities of the UK Armed Forces, in the Light of Global and Domestic Threats to Stability and Security’. The Bishop spoke about the growing credibility and capability gaps in British defence structures. 

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 1The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, in welcoming this debate, I offer some comments addressing the subtext—as the noble Earl, Lord Howe, put it—and in particular the strategic defence and security review. I am very well aware of the range and depth of experience among your Lordships. I offer these comments without such knowledge and background but from deep admiration for those who serve in our Armed Forces, not least in the Royal Navy, for which you will understand my local pride. We all share a concern for the stability and security of our nation and our world. Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth asks if UK defence has a credibility and capability gap”

Bishop of Portsmouth asks Government about impact of tax credit cuts

On 14th of September 2015 Lord Dubs asked the Government ‘what assessment they have made of the impact of cuts in tax credits on middle- and lower-income working people’. The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Revd Christopher Foster, asked a supplementary question about the impact the proposed cuts would have on children.

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 1The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, bearing in mind that two-thirds of children who live in poverty are in in-work families, how will the Government monitor the impact of the proposed changes? In particular, will they review the exclusion of income-based measures from the suite of life chances indicators being brought in?

Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth asks Government about impact of tax credit cuts”

Bishop of Portsmouth welcomes Bill to protect children from harmful content online

On 17th July 2015 the Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Revd Christopher Foster, spoke during the Second Reading debate of Baroness Howe’s Online Safety Bill. The Bishop welcomed the Bill and its provisions to protect children and young people from being exposed to adult content online.

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 2The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, the provisions of this Bill are an important, indeed essential, part of a robust strategy to protect young people and children from the dangers of exposure to inappropriate material. I welcome it warmly. Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth welcomes Bill to protect children from harmful content online”

Bishop of Portsmouth welcomes Bill on making sports grounds more accessible

On 17th July 2015 the Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Revd Christopher Foster, spoke during the Second Reading debate of Lord Faulkner of Worcester’s Accessible Sports Grounds Bill. The Bishop welcomed the Bill.

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 1The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, I am pleased to welcome the Bill of the noble Lord, Lord Faulkner, and to support it this morning. I am grateful for his and others’ determination to make good provision for disabled people at sports grounds a requirement and not just a vague aspiration. Were this not a sitting Friday and it my responsibility to lead the Prayers of this House, I would instead this morning be at Lord’s for the second day of the Ashes Test. My ticket—obtained long before today was fixed as a sitting Friday—is being put, I trust, to good use. Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth welcomes Bill on making sports grounds more accessible”

Bishop of Portsmouth argues for delay to plan to extend waiting period for universal credit payments

On 13th July 2015 the House of Lords debated Government proposals to introduce seven waiting days for applicants for universal credit, prior to receipt of payment. Two motions were put to the House – the first, from Lord German, to exempt the housing element of universal credit from that; the second, from Baroness Sherlock, to delay enactment until universal credit had been fully rolled out. The Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Revd Christopher Foster, spoke in support of Baroness Sherlock’s amendment and voted for it in the subsequent Division of the House. Baroness Sherlock’s amendment was passed by 135 to 124 votes. The Bishop’s speech and an extract of the Minister’s response is below:

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 2My Lords, I and others from these Benches have welcomed the principle of universal credit, and I readily do so again. However, the best of policies and principles have practical consequences which make all the difference to the effectiveness of policy. In that constructive spirit, wishing universal credit to be successful in simplifying the complexity faced by benefit claimants and confirming the dignity of work at a decent rate of pay, I add some reservations to the extension of waiting time to seven days. Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth argues for delay to plan to extend waiting period for universal credit payments”

Divisions – Universal Credit (Waiting Days) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

On the 13th July 2015, the Bishop of Portsmouth took part in a division on the Universal Credit (Waiting Days) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

He voted ‘Content’ to the motion put by Baroness Sherlock, which was agreed following a division of the House. You can read his speech on the amendment, here.

Continue reading “Divisions – Universal Credit (Waiting Days) (Amendment) Regulations 2015”

Bishop of Portsmouth responds to the budget statement

On 25th March 2015 the Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Revd Christopher Foster, spoke in the debate in the House of Lords on the Budget Statement for 2015-’16. The Bishop raised encouragement of personal saving, the income tax threshold, and future welfare reform, amongst other issues. The text of his speech is below:

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 1The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, it is right to acknowledge what is good and encouraging in the economic situation—particularly compared to the background of five years ago—and in much of what the Chancellor announced last week, and I am glad to do so. I warmly welcome the continuing fall in the number of people unemployed and, among the proposals, funding for wi-fi in public libraries, investment in transport infrastructure in the north of England, a boost to charities through the raising of the small donations gift aid limit and the extra allocation for mental health services for children and for new mothers, especially when half of my Bishop’s Lent appeal in Portsmouth diocese is to support local mental health charities. I am pleased, too, to hear of the planned rise in the minimum wage, though longing for the living wage to become the norm. There is much to welcome but, as I have indicated, with some caveats.

Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth responds to the budget statement”

Bishop of Truro leads debate on local welfare assistance for those in crisis

On 10th February 2015, the Bishop of Truro, Rt Rev Tim Thornton, led a debate in the House of Lords on local welfare assistance schemes and help for those in crisis. The full text of his speech is below, followed by those of Peers who participated. The Bishop of Portsmouth, Rt Rev Christopher Foster, also spoke in the debate towards the end.

Welfare Assistance Schemes

Question for Short Debate

7.30 pm

Asked by The Lord Bishop of Truro

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that local welfare assistance schemes provide effective support to people in crisis and will continue to be able to do so.Bishop of Truro 20.6.13

The Lord Bishop of Truro: My Lords, I am very grateful indeed for this opportunity to raise a very important issue by putting some questions to the Government on, and raising matters relating to, local welfare assistance schemes. In doing so, I declare my interest that I am chair of the Children’s Society, a national charity which has conducted quite a lot of research in this area and to which I shall refer. Continue reading “Bishop of Truro leads debate on local welfare assistance for those in crisis”

Bishop of Portsmouth speaks in debate on Universal Credit conditionality

On 4th February 2015, Liberal Democrat Peer Lord German led a question for short debate in the House of Lords, to ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the results of the review into the setting of universal credit conditionality when children are in distress. The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Revd Christopher Foster, took part in the debate. Speaking from personal experiences, the Bishop spoke of the need to provide greater flexibility and generosity in the suspension of conditionality of universal credit payments when children are in distress, particularly in circumstances where a child has lost a parent.

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 1The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord German, for prompting this debate about the review of universal credit when children are in distress. I speak this evening particularly about the distressing and challenging circumstances of the death of a parent, carer or sibling. I speak not only because I have experience as a priest alongside parents in such situations, as do so many of my clergy colleagues, and because I now support clergy in my diocese of Portsmouth ministering to those facing such deaths, but because of personal experience in my family. Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth speaks in debate on Universal Credit conditionality”

Bishop of Portsmouth speaks about the Local Government Finance Settlement

On the 22nd January 2015 the Bishop of Portsmouth spoke during a debate on the Local Government Finance Settlement. Bishop Christopher spoke about the issues of local welfare provision and thanked the Government for including notional provision for the continuation of local welfare provision in the current settlement. The Bishop went on to ask the Government to maintain or ring-fence the local welfare allocation to ensure that those in crisis need are helped. 

14.04.09 Portsmouth maiden speech 1The Lord Bishop of Portsmouth: My Lords, I welcome this debate on the implications and challenges of the local government settlement. On these Benches, and indeed in the whole House, we look forward to the maiden speeches of the noble Baroness, Lady Pinnock, and of my colleague and friend, the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Southwark. I look forward to that for many reasons, not least that he was a senior curate in the diocese that I now serve. He is the most recent in this House of a long line of able clergy nurtured and grown in the Diocese of Portsmouth. Continue reading “Bishop of Portsmouth speaks about the Local Government Finance Settlement”