Tag: St Albans

Bishop of St Albans asks about cold weather payments

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 16th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 27 October (HL2653), on what basis they can provide for the Cold Weather Payment being £25; when they undertook their last review into the appropriateness of that figure; and what assessment they have made of the efficacy of a one-off payment for those eligible for the Cold Weather Payment.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about cold weather payments”

Bishop of St Albans asks about sources of international climate finance

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about how international climate finances are allocated during a debate on the government’s COP27 Statement on 15th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, is the Minister able to confirm that the pledges for international climate finance are not being taken from the ODA (Official Development Assistance) budgets?

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about sources of international climate finance”

Bishop of St Albans asks about lack of communication around supporting asylum seekers in local communities:

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about the need for better communication with local communities and support organisations when housing asylum seekers on 15th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, of course we are delighted at the hard work that the people at Manston are putting into this, but there is a very serious problem indeed. Just a few days ago, I had an email from one of my clergy who said that, during the week, large numbers of asylum seekers were moved in, without any warning to the local authority or local partners, and it has caused chaos. That means not only that we do not have the statutory support in place but that voluntary groups such as churches, which are trying to offer support, simply have no warning. Will he go back to his officials? We simply need to get the communication right and we will all work with the Government and other partners to try to solve this very difficult, agonising problem.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about lack of communication around supporting asylum seekers in local communities:”

Bishop of St Albans asks about unmanned aircraft vehicles in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine

The Lord Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 15th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the capability of Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs) provided to Russia by Iran; and what steps they are taking to help Ukrainians defend themselves from Russian UAV attacks.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about unmanned aircraft vehicles in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine”

Bishop of St Albans asks about public health impacts of sewage discharges

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question about the public health consequences of sewage being discharged into the sea and rivers on 14th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, this is not just causing devastation in our rivers—not least in our wonderful chalk streams in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire in my diocese—it is also a public health issue. Noble Lords may have seen the story of Jayne Etherington, a 22 year-old who went swimming in Pembrokeshire, caught E. coli from sewage and landed up in hospital with serious damage to her organs. What does the NHS think about this as a health hazard which is affecting a significant number of people and stopping them getting exercise by swimming in the sea?

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about public health impacts of sewage discharges”

Bishop of St Albans asks about pension funds

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 14th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what discussions they have had with the Pensions Regulator regarding the use of Liability Driven Investment by pension funds.
  • what assessment they have made of the risk to individuals from the practice of Liability Driven Investment by pension funds.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about pension funds”

Bishop of St Albans asks about permits for overseas agricultural workers

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 14th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to grant more overseas workers permits for work in food production in the Lee Valley.

Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con): Our skills-based immigration system enables us to treat people from every part of the world equally. We have broadened the eligibility of Skilled Worker visas from graduate jobs only to include jobs skilled to RQF level 3 and lowered the salary threshold to £25,600, making more overseas worker eligible to enter the UK. There are already a range of occupations in the agri-food sector which are eligible under our immigration system, if English language and salary requirements are met. Our immigration system is not regional and therefore available to all employers (including those in the Lee Valley area).

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about permits for overseas agricultural workers”

Bishop of St Albans asks about calls to place an arms embargo and sanctions on Myanmar

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 9th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the call by the Women’s League of Burma and Burma Campaign UK to institute a comprehensive global arms embargo.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The UK is a longstanding supporter of an arms embargo on Myanmar. We are clear that countries should not sell arms to the Myanmar military. On 27 March, the UK coordinated a joint statement with 48 signatories that committed us to working to prevent the flow of arms and equipment to the Myanmar military. We have also worked with international partners at the G7, UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council.to secure strong language on stopping the flow of arms.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about calls to place an arms embargo and sanctions on Myanmar”

Bishop of St Albans asks about consumer protection

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 9th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • whether they consider that the new Consumer Duty set out by the Financial Conduct Authority in their policy statement PS22, published on 9 July, is the same as a general duty of care; and if not, what the differences are.
  • what assessment they have made of whether the new Consumer Duty set out by the Financial Conduct Authority in their policy statement PS22, published on 9 July, will be effective.
  • what plans they have, if any, to introduce a statutory duty of care for consumers.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about consumer protection”

Bishop of St Albans asks about economic challenges to agriculture in the Lee Valley

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 9th November 2022:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the economic challenges facing vegetable growers in the Lee Valley due to increasing energy prices.

Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about economic challenges to agriculture in the Lee Valley”