Tax credit cuts prompt concerns from bishop

FACING QUESTIONS about measuring the effect of tax credit cuts on lower income working families, the Bishop of Portsmouth was told that forecasting child poverty is “difficult”.

The Bishop, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, also pushed the Government on widening capability gaps in British defence structures.

The sustainability of the UK’s food supply was a concern raised in the House of Lords by the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Alan Smith.

The Bishop also asked the House what financial help farmers will have over the winter due to decreased milk prices, to which Lord Gardiner of Kimble replied that he asked the emergency Agriculture Council to consider removing any CAP on farmers subsidy payments.

Bishop Smith also asked what help the Government will offer to independent retailers if Sunday trading hours are deregulated.

“There is deep concern that local councils will not be able to resist the legal appeals by some very powerful commercial organisations if they try to differentiate in different areas,” he said.

The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill retired from the Lords last week, before the House rose for the party conference recess.

Reflecting on his experience in his valedictory speech, Bishop Gledhill observed that the House works best with Crossbench independent peers, not an overall Opposition majority.

The Bishop of Chester, the Rt Rev Peter Forster, asked the House whether current European Regulations on migrants are workable, given the number of refugees seeking asylum.