Tag: Truro

Caroline Spelman asks Foreign Secretary about religious literacy of diplomats

spelman170119dOn 25th June 2019  during Foreig Office Questions, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman MP, asked the Foreign Secretary about diplomats and religious literacy:

Dame Caroline Spelman: This Foreign Secretary deserves credit for setting up an independent review into the persecution of Christians worldwide, but will he ensure that a lasting legacy is achieved, whatever the outcome of that review, by ensuring that diplomats who are sent to countries where persecution occurs receive training in religious literacy?

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Bishop of Truro raises issue of children with mental health conditions being placed on adult wards

On 5th July 2017 Baroness Massey of Darwen asked Her Majesty’s Government “what progress they have made in addressing (1) the concerns of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, and (2) that Committee’s recommendations for changes in the implementation of measures to enhance child welfare.” The Bishop of Truro, Rt Revd Tim Thornton, asked a follow up question:

The Lord Bishop of Truro: In the report, published in 2016, it states that 202 children suffering from mental health issues were placed in adult wards in 2015-16, despite this being made illegal in 2010. Can the Minister comment on this? Continue reading “Bishop of Truro raises issue of children with mental health conditions being placed on adult wards”

Bishop of Truro warns against seeing aid as only a financial investment

Bishop of TruroOn the 3rd July 2017, the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton contributed to Baroness D’Souza’s debate: That this House takes note of the case for measuring the impact of the United Kingdom’s development aid budget. In a wide-ranging speech, the Bishop spoke of the importance of guarding against thinking about aid spending simply as a financial investment.

The Lord Bishop of Truro: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady D’Souza, for initiating this debate on such a very important and topical issue.

As no doubt we will hear from other speakers, the UK is known around the world as a leader in international development. It has achieved great results during the past two decades. I have no doubt of the importance of the case for measuring the impact of our development aid. I want to underline that case and also, perhaps more importantly for me, to ensure that we try to measure the right things if we can and do not understand aid only as a financial investment which can be measured simply in financial terms. I fear that too many people in our debate will go immediately from talking about aid to talking about money and finances rather than going back and thinking about what the word “development” might mean. It seems that development is in itself a fascinating idea in our world today with perhaps an assumption that other countries are less developed than we are. We must be careful about the assumptions and presuppositions we make when we use the word.​

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Votes: EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – ping pong

On 7th March 2017 the House of Lords considered the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Report. A vote was held on an amendment from Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Newby to hold a second referendum on the outcome of Brexit negotiations . Seven Lords Spiritual took part. 

On 13th March 2017, the House of Lords considered the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill during ping pong, after the Commons had refused to accept amendments from the House of Lords. A vote was held on two amendments tabled by the Liberal Democrats to reinstate previously accepted amendments on the status of EU nationals and on parliamentary scrutiny. Five Lords Spiritual took part.  Continue reading “Votes: EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – ping pong”

Votes: EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – that the Bill should not proceed

On 7th March 2017 the House of Lords considered the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Third Reading. A vote was called on a Liberal Democrat motion that the Bill should not pass.Six Lords Spiritual took part in the vote. 
Continue reading “Votes: EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – that the Bill should not proceed”

Votes: EU (notification of Withdrawal) Bill – parliamentary approval of Brexit deal

On 7th March 2017 the House of Lords considered the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Report. A vote was called on a cross-party amendment to give parliament an approval vote on a negotiated Brexit deal. Ten bishops took part.  Continue reading “Votes: EU (notification of Withdrawal) Bill – parliamentary approval of Brexit deal”

Votes: EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – second referendum

On 7th March 2017 the House of Lords considered the Government’s EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Report. A vote was held on an amendment from Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Newby to hold a second referendum on the outcome of Brexit negotiations . Seven Lords Spiritual took part.  Continue reading “Votes: EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill – second referendum”

Votes: Investigatory Powers Bill

On 2nd November 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Investigatory Powers Bill at its Third Reading. The Bishop of Truro, Rt Revd Tim Thornton,  took part in a vote on an amendment to the Bill tabled by Crossbench Peer Baroness Hollins about the unlawful interception of telephone call:

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Votes: Investigatory Powers Bill

On 31st October 2016 the House of Lords considered the Government’s Investigatory Powers Bill at its Third Reading. The Bishops of Chester and Truro took part in a vote on an amendment to the Bill tabled by Crossbench Peer Baroness Sheila Hollins about the unlawful interception of telephone calls. Continue reading “Votes: Investigatory Powers Bill”

Bishop of Truro – Government’s Life Chances Strategy needs to address food insecurity and young people’s mental health services

Bishop of Truro 20.6.13On 11th May 2016 Lord Farmer led a debate in the House of Lords on the motion “to ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to deliver the Life Chances Strategy to transform the lives of the most disadvantaged people in Britain, as outlined by the Prime Minister on 11 January.” The Bishop of Truro, Rt Revd Tim Thornton, spoke during the  debate. The full text of his speech and extracts from the Minister’s reply are below.

The Lord Bishop of Truro: My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Farmer, on securing this important debate. He kindly mentioned me in his introduction, and I probably ought to note that I once used to work in a college where, much later, he was on the governing body. He was also very sweet to mention that I might say something interesting. I find that most people look forward to what I have to say rather than look back on it. Continue reading “Bishop of Truro – Government’s Life Chances Strategy needs to address food insecurity and young people’s mental health services”

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