On 20th July 2021, two Bishops took part in votes in the House of Lords on reports on the conduct of several members of the House, regarding completion of the “Valuing Everyone” training mandated by the House of Lords Code of Conduct.
The Bishop of Southwark asked a question about the principle of businesses and governments seeking “free, prior, and informed consent” from indigenous communities before engaging in industrial activities, during a debate on human rights in business practices on 20th July 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I draw the Minister’s attention to the policy of the National Investing Bodies of the Church of England on extractive industries, which has an explicit commitment drawn from the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about rights of indigenous communities in planning work”During a debate on cash infrastructure in the UK on 20th July 2023, the Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the use of cash by vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with mental health issues, and those on low incomes:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, the data tells us that cash usage is higher among higher age groups, those with mental health issues, those on lower incomes and other categories. Does the Minister agree that what works in terms of digital payments for some groups in society and proves financially viable for major banking institutions simply does not work for large numbers of people in a diocese of 3 million such as Southwark, and many others?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about access to cash for vulnerable groups”On 13th July 2021, the House of Lords debated a report from the Procedures and Privileges Committee regarding proposed changes to procedures in the House. Votes were held on a motion to approve the changes, and amendments to the main motion, in which Bishops took part:
The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 23rd June 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to their Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy (CP403), published on 16 March, what plans they have to increase the UK’s (1) diplomatic presence, and (2) other infrastructure, around the globe.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about plans to increase UK diplomatic infrastructure”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 22nd June 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of delays in the issuing of the Aspen payment cards to asylum seekers.
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con): The PrePaid Financial Services (PFS) solution is a well-established Mastercard pre-paid card used by organisations across the UK as well as abroad and has undergone over 5 months of rigorous testing to integrate with Home Office systems.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about delays in issuing payment cards to asylum seekers”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answers on 21st June 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government:
The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 21st June 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government, given the operation of vulture funds and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on poorer income countries, what consideration they have given to introducing legislation similar to the time-expired Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about debt relief”The Bishop of Southwark received the following written answer on 7th June 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Southwark asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to the article in the Guardian Home Office letter wrongly tells British citizens to apply for settled status, published on 17 May, what assessment they have made of the accuracy of their databases regarding citizenship status; and what remedial action they are taking in relation to this matter.
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark asks about citizenship data following erroneous government letter on settled status”On 27th May 2021 the House of Lords debated the Government’s Immigration Rules and Statements of Changes to them. A Motion to Regret the Statements was moved by Lord Green of Deddington, though not put to a vote. His Motion read:
“That this House regrets that the Statements of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC813, HC1043 and HC1248), published respectively on 22 October 2020, 10 December 2020 and 4 March, do not provide clear and comprehensible descriptions of the changes proposed, nor of their likely effect. Special attention drawn by the Secondary Legislation Committee, 33rd and 40th Reports, Session 2019–21.”
The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I too am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Green of Deddington, for securing this important debate on his Motion to Regret. Last year, several Members of your Lordships’ House cautioned against the major extension of the Government’s capacity to make law with minimal recourse to Parliament in the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act. Today, at the initiative of the noble Lord, Lord Green of Deddington, and not of Her Majesty’s Government, we have 90 minutes to examine three statutory instruments relating to the Immigration Rules, one of which runs to 507 pages. All three were subject to the negative resolution, which involved little or no scrutiny of such important areas of life. Your Lordships’ House last defeated Her Majesty’s Government by praying against a negative resolution 21 years ago. Is the Minister satisfied with the level of scrutiny that these statutory instruments have received? Would she agree with me that it would have been better to publish them first in draft and to seek the views of both Houses in a debate?
Continue reading “Bishop of Southwark raises concerns about legality and effect of immigration rule changes”
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