Posted Friday 23 July 2010
As part of a sequence of visits to local and national places linked with his diocese (Aberdeen & Orkney) the Rt Rev Dr Bob Gillies recently visited MP’s in Westminster whose constituencies overlap with his diocese. Anne Begg (Aberdeen South) was the principal host for the evening of conversation which also included Frank Doran (Aberdeen North), Eilidh Whiteford (Banff and Buchan) and Sir Robert Smith (Kincardine and Deeside).
Apart from discussing events and developments in the diocese, much of the conversation focussed on issues of mental health, assessment of people on disability allowance for work and a shared concern for future resourcing of community needs.
The evening had begun when Lady Saltoun had met with Bishop Bob in the House of Lords and, after a tour of the Lords, had discussed her work in the House of Lords and the likelihood of forthcoming legislative changes that might affect the constitution and working of the Lords.
Speaking of the visit afterwards Bishop Bob said “Quite apart from discussing important issues that will increasingly impact on people both in the diocese and the province, more generally very important links were forged with several of our elected representatives, all of whom clearly valued the work of our churches and were concerned to assist with issues we might raise as well as being willing to draw us into collaboration with their own work when the need demands.”
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