On 15th September 2020 votes took place on amendments to the Government’s Agriculture Bill. The Bishops of Peterborough and St Albans took part:
Votes: Agriculture Bill
Tag: St Albans
Agriculture Bill: Bishop of St Albans supports amendments on food security, spending, and direct payments
On 15th September 2020 the House of Lords considered amendments to the Government’s Agriculture Bill at its Report Stage. The Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, sponsored and spoke in favour of amendments to:
- improve food security and access to food that promotes good health and wellbeing,
- require Government to set out detailed spending plans,
- delay the start of the transition away from direct farm payments from 2021 to 2022.
The amendments were not put to a vote but withdrawn after debate.
Bishop of St Albans says Gambling Commission inadequately resourced
On 10th September 2020 Members of the House of Lords questioned Government on what plans they have to review gambling legislation. Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, asked a question:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans (V): My Lords, with the significant increase in gambling harms during lockdown, are Her Majesty’s Government satisfied that the Gambling Commission has adequate resources to do its work? Is the Minister content with the commission reducing its staffing to make savings at the very point when it needs to take additional action to regulate online gambling? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans says Gambling Commission inadequately resourced”
Bishop of St Albans asks Government about tree health and biosecurity
In the House of Lords on 3rd September 2020 during questions to Government about the rate of tree planting in the UK, the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, asked about its tree health resilience strategy:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans [V]: My Lords, it is encouraging to hear about the progress being made, but we are fighting a losing battle if we continue to import saplings rife with diseases that then kill significant numbers of trees. Will the Minister update your Lordships’ House on the tree health resilience strategy and what other steps Her Majesty’s Government are taking to increase biosecurity? Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about tree health and biosecurity”
Bishop of St Albans asks Government about provision of support on forced marriage
On 6th August the Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, received a written answer to a question from Baroness Williams of Trafford on forced marriage.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: HL7246 To ask Her Majesty’s Government in how many cases the Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or support related to possible forced marriage (1) to a person aged under 16, (2) to a person aged between 16 and 18, and (3) to a person aged between 18 and 20, in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016, (d) 2017, (e) 2018, and (f) 2019.
Baroness Williams of Trafford: Information on Forced Marriage Unit statistics, including age breakdowns, can be found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forced-marriage-unit-statistics. Providing the complete information requested would exceed the word limit for responses to written parliamentary questions so I have attached the following publication from the Forced Marriage Unit Statistics Unit.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about provision of support on forced marriage”Bishop of St Albans asks Government about forced marriage prosecutions
On 3rd August the Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, received a written answer to a question from Lord Keen of Elie on prosecutions in relation to forced marriages.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: HL7247 To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prosecutions were initiated in relation to forced marriage in (1) 2014, (2) 2015, (3) 2016, (4) 2017, (5) 2018, and (5) 2019; and how many such prosecutions were successful in each year.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about forced marriage prosecutions”Bishop of St Albans asks Government about setting up regional travel corridors
On 28th July Baroness Smith of Basildon asked Her Majesty’s Government “urther to the letter from Baroness Vere of Norbiton to all Members on travel corridors and Spain, sent on 26 July, what support they will provide to those who have (1) visited, or (2) travelled through, Spain and are subsequently required to self-isolate on their return to the United Kingdom and are unable to fulfil work-related obligations as a result.” The Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, asked a follow up question focusing on Luton Airport and travel corridors.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, it is not only holidaymakers and travel firms that are suffering. Luton Borough Council, in my diocese, owns Luton Airport. As a result of the lockdown, it has a significant hole in its finances, affecting every person living in the borough. It is surely in the interest of every country to find a better way to provide travel corridors based on regions rather than simply designating entire countries. What consideration are Her Majesty’s Government giving to the idea of having regional travel corridors?
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks Government about setting up regional travel corridors”
Bishop of St Albans asks Government for clarity about Covid-19, singing and face masks in churches
On 22nd July Lord Lexden asked Her Majesty’s Government “further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 26 May (HL4184), what discussions they have had with (1) the Church of England, (2) the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and (3) other Churches, about the reopening of church buildings for private devotional prayer and public worship.“
The Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, asked a follow up question focusing on singing and compulsory wearing of face masks:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, many of our churches and cathedrals are desperate to enable small groups of singers, perhaps four singers standing five metres apart from each other. Is there any possibility that that will be allowed soon? Secondly, will the Minister tell the House whether there are any plans for the compulsory wearing of face masks in places of worship?
Agriculture Bill: Bishop of St Albans supports amendments on food security and vulnerable farmers
On 21st July House of Lords debated amendments to the Government’s Agriculture Bill, during its Committee stage. The Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, spoke to amendments on maintaining food security during he movement to the new farm payments scheme.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I will say a few words about the transition period and, in particular, in support of Amendments 150 to 154 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Rock, which have the support of the National Farmers Union and the noble Earl, Lord Dundee, among others.
Bishop of St Albans asks for swords into ploughshares approach to tackle rising knife crime
On 21st July the Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, asked Her Majesty’s Government “further to the statistical bulletin by the Office for National Statistics Crime in England and Wales: year ending March 2020, published on 17 July, which reported that the incidence of knife crime is at a record high, what action they are taking to address the rise of knife crime in England and Wales.” The Minister’s response and the follow-up question from the Bishop, is below:
Baroness Williams of Trafford (The Minister of State, Home Office): My Lords, the Government are taking urgent action to tackle knife crime, which is costing too many lives and leaving too many people afraid. Police funding is increasing by more than £1 billion this year. We are recruiting 20,000 more police officers and making it easier for them to use stop and search, and we are ensuring that more knife crime offenders go to prison for longer.
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