Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Mar 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
"My Lords, I have added my name to Amendment 58A. I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Coaker, for introducing this new amendment. In Committee, I tabled an amendment looking to create a data firewall for survivors of domestic abuse. This amendment, however, is helpful in that it …..."Lord Archbishop of Canterbury - View Speech
View all Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bshp - Bishops) contributions to the debate on: Nationality and Borders Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 05 Jan 2022
Nationality and Borders Bill
"My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the many noble Lords in this House who bring such expertise to our deliberations and compassion to our scrutiny of this Bill. I wish to focus my remarks particularly on Part 5 of the Bill, on modern-day slavery. It has been said …..."Lord Archbishop of Canterbury - View Speech
View all Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bshp - Bishops) contributions to the debate on: Nationality and Borders Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 03 Nov 2021
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
"My Lords, I have listened with interest to what noble Lords have said on this group of amendments, and I rise to add my support to them, particularly Amendment 149.
In 2019, the General Synod, the parliament of the Church of England, held a serious and lengthy debate on the …..."Lord Archbishop of Canterbury - View Speech
View all Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bshp - Bishops) contributions to the debate on: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 15 Mar 2021
Domestic Abuse Bill
"My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, for her work on this amendment. It is also a pleasure to follow the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss.
Amendment 67, to which I give my support, speaks to an underlying issue with several amendments that concern migrant women: namely, …..."Lord Archbishop of Canterbury - View Speech
View all Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bshp - Bishops) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Abuse Bill
Written Question
Monday 15th February 2021
Asked by:
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bishops - Bishops)
Question
to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the outbreak of COVID-19 at Napier Barracks, what plans they have to end the use of such barracks as asylum accommodation; and if they have no such plans, what steps they intend to take to ensure (1) that social distancing measures are adhered to, and (2) that the dignity and freedom of residents is upheld.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford
- Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken decisive action to ensure that those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom have the support they need.
Given the unique challenges over recent months, it has been necessary to use contingency accommodation, such as former military barracks, to ensure there is always sufficient capacity to deliver our statutory obligations to destitute asylum seekers.
These sites have accommodated soldiers and army personnel in the past and are safe, secure and suitable accommodation, in which asylum seekers receive three meals a day, all paid for by the taxpayer.
Despite our best efforts and the robust measures in place at our sites, a number of asylum seekers accommodated at Napier recently tested positive for coronavirus.
It was also incredibly disappointing that a number of individuals refused coronavirus tests and had refused to self-isolate or follow social distancing rules, despite repeated requests to do so.
In line with advice from Public Health England, over the last week the Home Office moved a number asylum seekers out of the site. The purpose of this move was to allow others at Napier to self-isolate more easily and facilitate a deep clean of the site.
A wide range of measures have been implemented to ensure guidance on social distancing and self-isolation are properly applied and we have worked closely with public health authorities throughout the pandemic to inform a national approach.
We take the wellbeing, dignity and freedom of those we support extremely seriously. Asylum seekers are not detained and are free to come and go from their accommodation, in line with coronavirus restrictions.
We continue to explore further options to ensure that we continue meet our statutory obligations to support and accommodate destitute asylum seekers at all times.
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 01 Feb 2021
Domestic Abuse Bill
"My Lords, I add my voice to those of noble Lords who have welcomed this Bill. I thank the Minister for all her work in this area. As other noble Lords have already said, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the crime of domestic abuse, which affects more than …..."Lord Archbishop of Canterbury - View Speech
View all Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bshp - Bishops) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Abuse Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 05 Jan 2021
Domestic Abuse Bill
"My Lords, I will add my voice to those who have already welcomed this Bill while also, in the brief time I have, suggesting that still more could be done to strengthen it further. The legislation is long overdue. As others have mentioned, we know that the pandemic has only …..."Lord Archbishop of Canterbury - View Speech
View all Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bshp - Bishops) contributions to the debate on: Domestic Abuse Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 01 Dec 2020
Covid-19: Domestic Abuse of Older People
"My Lords, as the Minister has commented, at present, we only collect data on those aged between 60 and 74. While she is making a commitment to work with the ONS to collect data on those aged over 74, will she commit to removing this age limit so we can …..."Lord Archbishop of Canterbury - View Speech
View all Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bshp - Bishops) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: Domestic Abuse of Older People
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 19 Oct 2020
Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens v Home Office
"My Lords, the judgment in December 2019 highlighted that the Home Office application fee to register a British citizen was £1,012 for children, even though the Home Office estimated the cost of processing applications for registration as £372. Putting a financial barrier on being able to access one’s rights is …..."Lord Archbishop of Canterbury - View Speech
View all Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bshp - Bishops) contributions to the debate on: Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens v Home Office
Written Question
Wednesday 20th May 2020
Asked by:
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (Bishops - Bishops)
Question
to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that any (1) NHS employee, and (2) agency worker engaged by the NHS, during the COVID-19 pandemic who is currently on (a) a Tier 5 Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa, or (b) a family visa, have the right to remain in the UK. [T]
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford
- Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government has announced we will extend the visas for a range of healthcare professionals working for the NHS and independent health and care providers, where their current visa expires before 1 October. This offer also applies to their families. The 12-month extension is automatic and free of charge and those benefitting will not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. Details of immigration changes, including the extended list of healthcare professionals covered by this offer, relating to COVID-19 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-borders.
Those in the UK with leave on long term basis can also extend their stay in-country and can continue to apply online.? Where an online application is made before leave expires, a person’s leave and conditions are automatically extended by virtue of Section 3C of the 1971 Immigration Act until the application can be decided.