Tag: Salisbury

Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about help for returning displaced Christians in Iraq

On 24th October 2017, the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, repeated a Government statement on the liberation of Raqqa. The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his statement and point out that the Christian presence in Iraq is integral to that country’s cultural identity. A reconstruction committee composed of Chaldean, Syriac and Syriac Orthodox churches has restored over 1,700 properties, but that will restore fewer than a quarter of internationally displaced people. What can the Government do to help those displaced Christians to return safely to that space, like Jonah returning to Nineveh, a place where they belong and are called? How can the Government support them in that process where there is a real threat in terms of faith? Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about help for returning displaced Christians in Iraq”

Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about refugee and food crisis in South Sudan

On 19th July 2017 the Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty’s Government “what further action they are taking to address the ongoing refugee crisis and acute food emergency in East Africa.” The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nick Holtham, asked a follow-up question:

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his responses. In the case of South Sudan, where conflict is the main cause of the crisis but it is also being further exacerbated by low rainfall, what is the UK doing in relation to internally displaced people? Perhaps I may also ask him to comment on the very different example of Burundi. Is this also an opportunity for him to say a bit more about how UK overseas aid is not a charity but is in our enlightened self-interest? Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about refugee and food crisis in South Sudan”

Policing and Crime Bill: Bishops propose tougher regulations on fixed-odds betting terminals

 

Bp Salisbury 2On 9th November 2016, the House of Lords considered the Government’s Policing and Crime Bill at its Committee Stage. An amendment tabled by the Bishop of St Albans was debated that would allow local authorities to regulate the number of fixed-odds betting terminals in their areas. In the absence of the Bishop, Lord Beecham moved the amendment and the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, spoke in support:

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Beecham, for moving the amendment. I stand in place of my colleague the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans, who is unable to be here today, in support of Amendment 214, which would grant new powers to local licensing authorities in regulating gaming machines on gambling premises. As the noble Lord, Lord Beecham, has already made clear, there is a strong case for measures that will help local authorities tackle gambling-related crime to be included in the Policing and Crime Bill. Continue reading “Policing and Crime Bill: Bishops propose tougher regulations on fixed-odds betting terminals”

Votes: Children and Social Work Bill

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

On 8th November 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Children and Social Work Bill at its Report Stage. Bishops took part in two votes on amendments to the Bill: one from Crossbench Peer Lord Ramsbotham to remove Clause 29 pertaining to the disclosure and publication of information and one from Labour’s Lord Watson of Invergowrie on behalf of Lord Dubs, pertaining to safeguarding unaccompanied refugee children. Lord Watson wished to remove the amendment after the Government pledged to make provision via other means, though some peers opposed the withdrawal, and the House divided. See here also.

Continue reading “Votes: Children and Social Work Bill”

Bishop of Salisbury welcomes Government backing for UN LGBT advocate

Bp Salisbury 2On 8th November 2016, Baroness Goldie repeated in the Lords a statement made in the Commons by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office supporting the role of the UN’s independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, welcomed the statement.

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury My Lords, I very much welcome the strength of the Statement. The rights of LGBTI people is often a very hot and contested matter, particularly on grounds of faith. It is significant therefore that the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Canterbury and most other primates in the Anglican communion have committed to the decriminalisation of homosexuality and to the support of the rights of all God’s children. I wonder whether the Minister would see faith as a resource that might be useful in addressing some of the issues raised on this matter. Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury welcomes Government backing for UN LGBT advocate”

Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about suicide and self-harm in prisons

Bp Salisbury 2On 8th November 2016 Lord Patel of Bradford asked Her Majesty’s Government “what action they are taking to address reports of increasing levels of violence in prisons.” The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I have been in and out of prisons quite a lot, usually in support of the excellent multifaith chaplaincies that attest to the importance of the spirit of human beings. In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in the number of suicides, and in self-harm and violence. The recently published strategy for prison safety and reform is very welcome. Does the Minister agree that an imaginative and creative approach to education and the development of people’s spirit is an essential part of prison life for all those who have offended and are being punished? Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury asks Government about suicide and self-harm in prisons”

Bishop of Salisbury welcomes new Carbon Budget Orders

On 19th July 2016 the House of Lords debated the approval of the Government’s draft Carbon Budget Order 2016 and Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2016. The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtham, spoke in the debate, welcoming the Orders, which were approved by Peers at the conclusion of the debate: 

Bp Salisbury 2The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I welcome both orders and welcome the Minister in her new role with its important responsibilities to further our progress in the care of our common home. I particularly welcome her as somebody who lives in the diocese of Salisbury, and I look forward to working with her in this new context.

The Committee on Climate Change’s Meeting Carbon Budgets—2016 Progress Report to Parliament says that it,

“comes at a critical point in the development of climate policy in the UK … against the backdrop of the Paris Agreement in December last year”.

The political circumstances could not be more significant. I was grateful to the noble Viscount, Lord Ridley, for his eloquent speech in favour of international agreements, which gave me a sense of urgency in relation to the implementation of the Paris agreement. I have taken on a preaching engagement in the autumn, about which I have been feeling some trepidation. It is to preach at the annual service for the Worshipful Company of Fuellers. I am now looking forward to that event and to trying to engage with that group of people on these issues. Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury welcomes new Carbon Budget Orders”

Bishop of Salisbury raises concerns about impact on civilians of Sudanese Government military actions

SalisburyOn 6th July 2016, Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty’s Government “what is their assessment of the current situation in Sudan in the light of continuing military offensives and aerial bombardments by the Government of Sudan in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur”. The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, I should like to underline the points made by the noble Baroness in her opening question about the significance of deliberate and targeted terrorism by the Sudanese Government on their own people, particularly in the bombing in the Nuba mountains, where Anglican schools have been repeatedly destroyed. My own diocese, the diocese of Salisbury, has a link with what is now Sudan and South Sudan that goes back more than 40 years, and there is a delegation from the Anglican communion in Sudan this week. Will the Minister inform the House how the Government intend to continue to provide leadership in relation to humanitarian aid in this continuing crisis?

Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury raises concerns about impact on civilians of Sudanese Government military actions”

Division: Renewables Obligation Closure Etc. (Amendment) Order 2016

House of Lords Division Lobby
House of Lords Division Lobby

On the 16th March 2016 Baroness Featherstone moved a motion to regret the Renewables Obligation Closure Etc. (Amendment) Order 2016. A vote was called and the Bishop of Salisbury took part.

Division Result:

Contents: 153 | Not Contents: 144 | Result: Government Defeat

The Bishop of Salisbury voted Content.

(Via Parliament.UK)

Bishop of Salisbury urges a rethink on Government renewable energy proposals

On the 16 March 2016 the Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtham, took part in a debate to approve the Government’s draft Renewables Obligation Closure Etc. (Amendment) Order 2016. Baroness Featherstone also tabled a Motion to Regret the change. The draft instrument closes the renewables obligation from 1 April 2016 (12 months early) to solar PV generating stations at 5 megawatts and below. It applies both to new generating stations and to existing stations that wish to add additional capacity up to the 5 megawatts threshold. The Bishop’s speech is below and the vote on the Regret Motion can be seen here.

Bp Salisbury 2The Lord Bishop of Salisbury: My Lords, it is curious to rehearse the same arguments so soon after the recent debate on feed-in tariffs. It is very disappointing in the wake of the success in Paris of COP 21, and the enthusiasm engendered from that about a new level of ambition in response to human-caused climate change. I feel as though the Minister is in a position of defending the indefensible. The noble Baroness, Lady Byford, made a very good point about the place of subsidies and pump-priming. Therefore, it is disappointing that the Government are not working more effectively with the renewable energy sector to build on the considerable success of that industry.

Continue reading “Bishop of Salisbury urges a rethink on Government renewable energy proposals”