On 26th April 2022, the House of Lords Debated amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill, and votes took place on amendments in which Bishops took part:
Votes: Nationality and Borders Bill
Tag: refugees
Votes: Nationality and Borders Bill
On 4th April 2022, the House of Lords debated amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill. There were votes on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part.
Bishop of Worcester asks about the Homes for Ukraine scheme
The Bishop of Worcester asked a question in a debate on the Homes for Ukraine scheme on 28th March 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, I pay tribute to the Minister for the enormous amount that he has done in a very short space of time. At the same time, however, I acknowledge the frustration that is felt and expressed by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, on the part of so many people. We have tried locally to convene people in the community, and enormous support is forthcoming, but there seems to be a problem with the process. One acknowledges the need for security checks, but I have heard a lot of times, anecdotally, about the complexity of the visa process and how difficult it is. Local government is waiting for guidance from the Government here.
Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester asks about the Homes for Ukraine scheme”Refugees (Family Reunion) Bill: Bishop of Durham speaks in debate
On 18th March 2022, the House of Lords debated the Refugees – Family Reunion Bill in its third reading. The Bishop of Durham spoke briefly on the issue of family separation before the bill was passed:
The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I regret not having been able to speak earlier. As noble Lords know, I spoke passionately on this issue on the Nationality and Borders Bill. I do not think that it is too late for the Government to think about reintroducing this into that Bill on Tuesday in the other place. I hope that they might do so.
Bishop of Durham asks about the sponsorship scheme for Ukrainian refugees
On 16th March 2022, the House of Lords debated the new Homes for Ukraine scheme, that would allow members of the public to put themselves forward as sponsors to house refugees from Ukraine. The Bishop of Durham asked a question regarding support for sponsors:
The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, I hope the House will forgive me; Bishops do not usually go first. I declare my interest as a trustee of Reset. I offer the Minister welcome. I loved working with him with Syrians and we did loads of work together. Please will he pass our thanks to Paul Morrison and the team, who I know have worked almost without sleep over the last four or five days? It is great that that team is being brought back together.
Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about the sponsorship scheme for Ukrainian refugees”Bishop of Durham asks about refugee support
The Bishop of Durham asked a question about government support for refugee transportation on 15th March 2022, during a debate on support for refugees from Ukraine:
The Lord Bishop of Durham: My Lords, a family is named in Moldova, Romania or Poland and has been sponsored by me or someone else but does not have the money for transportation. If it is all agreed on all sides, will the Government help with transportation?
Continue reading “Bishop of Durham asks about refugee support”Bishop of St Albans asks about refugees from Ukraine
The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about guidance for local authorities during a debate on visas for Ukrainians on 10th March 2022:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, perhaps the Minister could help us a little. Ukrainians are arriving, some of them with leave to remain, but they have no recourse to public funds. For example, yesterday my chaplain at the airport in Luton was phoning me saying, “We have 12 people. They have been put up for a week in a hotel by Border Force, but that is going to come to an end on Monday.” We are currently trying to raise money and funds, and to identify places for these 12 people. This is a really serious problem facing us immediately. We want to help, but there is a very real danger that, if we cannot get the legalities sorted out, there are going to be people—particularly single people—sleeping rough by next Monday. Will clear guidance be given to local authorities, and can we try to find a way through some of these problems, which need to be addressed now?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about refugees from Ukraine”Church Commissioners’ Question Time, 10 March 2022
On 10th March 2022 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous MP, answered questions from MPs in the House of Commons, freedom of religion or belief overseas, family hubs, supporting Ukrainian refugees, affordable housing, the Queen’s platinum jubilee, and the Commissioners’ Scottish landholdings.
Global Summit: Freedom of Religion or Belief
Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) (Con): What role the Church of England has in supporting the global summit to promote freedom of religion or belief, to be hosted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in July 2022. (905957)
The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Andrew Selous): The Church is making every effort to support that important summit to promote freedom of religion or belief. A debate was held on the lack of global religious freedom at last month’s General Synod and I am pleased that my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce), in her capacity as the Prime Minister’s special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, was able to brief Synod members on the huge cost of following Jesus in many parts of the world.
Bishop of Leeds asks about urgent refugee applications from Ukraine
The Bishop of Leeds asked a question regarding urgent applications from Ukrainian refugees on 9th March 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Leeds: My Lords, I heard yesterday that one of the refugee application centres in Poland has no available appointments until the end of April—the end of next month. This seems to be a bureaucratic answer to a humanitarian question. I received an email last night asking, “Is the UK Government ill prepared, incompetent or unwilling?”—and I do not know how to answer it.
Continue reading “Bishop of Leeds asks about urgent refugee applications from Ukraine”Votes: Nationality and Borders Bill
On 8th March 2022, the House of Lords debated amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill in its third day of the Report stage. Votes were held on several amendments, in which Bishops took part.
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