On 29th March 2022, the House of Lords debated amendments to the Building Safety Bill. There were votes held on several amendments, in which Bishops took part.
Votes: Building Safety Bill
Tag: Worcester
Bishop of Worcester asks about the Homes for Ukraine scheme
The Bishop of Worcester asked a question in a debate on the Homes for Ukraine scheme on 28th March 2022:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, I pay tribute to the Minister for the enormous amount that he has done in a very short space of time. At the same time, however, I acknowledge the frustration that is felt and expressed by the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, on the part of so many people. We have tried locally to convene people in the community, and enormous support is forthcoming, but there seems to be a problem with the process. One acknowledges the need for security checks, but I have heard a lot of times, anecdotally, about the complexity of the visa process and how difficult it is. Local government is waiting for guidance from the Government here.
Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester asks about the Homes for Ukraine scheme”Votes: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
On 22nd March 2022, the House of Lords considered Commons amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. Votes were held on further amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part.
Votes: Health and Care Bill
On 7th March 2022, the House of Lords debated the Health and Care Bill in its report stage. Votes were held on amendments in which Bishops took part.
Votes: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
On 17th January 2022, the House of Lords debated the Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill in its report stage. Votes were held on amendments to the bill, in which Bishops took part:
Bishop of Worcester asks about current humanitarian situation in Afghanistan
The Bishop of Worcester received the following written answers on 11th October 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the current levels of internally displaced persons in Afghanistan, and (2) current and future refugee flows from Afghanistan to (a) Pakistan, (b) Tajikistan, (c) Iran, (d) Uzbekistan, and (e) Turkmenistan.
Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester asks about current humanitarian situation in Afghanistan”Bishop of Worcester asks about cuts to overseas development aid
The Bishop of Worcester asked a question on cuts to the UK’s overseas development aid, with particular regard to the impact on recipients of aid and on our leadership in international development, on 14th July 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, the Chancellor’s Statement published on Monday finally outlined the meaning of the much-repeated but undefined government line that 0.7% aid spending would be restored when the fiscal situation allows. Will the Minister accept that to many working in the field of international development, these criteria point to a permanent rather than a temporary cut in overseas development, which in any case was due to change and has changed because it is a percentage of gross national income? Does the Minister recognise that this decision represents a terrible sentence, probably of death, for thousands of children and risks doing untold reputational damage to Britain’s leadership in international development?
Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester asks about cuts to overseas development aid”Votes: Procedures & Privileges
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:
Bishop of Worcester asks about conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia
The Bishop of Worcester received the following written answers on 13th July 2021:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that soldiers from Eritrea are using food as a weapon of war in Tigray.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con, Foreign Office): The Government is deeply concerned about the grave humanitarian situation in Ethiopia and combatants, including Eritrean armed forces, denying access to humanitarian agencies.
Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester asks about conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia”Bishop of Worcester speaks in debate on official development assistance
The Bishop of Worcester took part in a debate on the UK Government’s decision to reduce spending on official development assistance on 24th June 2021, pointing out the high number of doctors and healthcare professionals from overseas working in the UK, in effect taking from countries to which the UK provides aid:
The Lord Bishop of Worcester: My Lords, I echo the thanks expressed to the noble Lord, Lord Campbell, for this debate. There are many reasons for honouring the manifesto commitment to 0.7% aid, of which the Conservative Party can be proud. I will focus on just one.
Our National Health Service has done a fantastic job during the pandemic and been rightly lauded for doing so. One of the reasons for its success is its superb workforce, no fewer than 170,000 of whom are foreign, the vast majority from poorer countries which are struggling in the face of the pandemic. Figures show that Indians make up the largest number of foreign staff members at 27,000, followed by Filipinos at 23,000. Ghana provides over 3,000, Zimbabwe 4,500 and Pakistan 4,400. The fact is that we are taking more out of developing countries, when we poach their doctors, nurses and other skilled professionals, than we are putting in through aid.
Continue reading “Bishop of Worcester speaks in debate on official development assistance”
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