Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made recent representations to the government of Nigeria in relation to (1) the ongoing detention of Mubarak Bala, President of the Nigerian Humanist Association; and (2) securing his unconditional and immediate release.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is aware that the Court of Appeal in Kano has reduced the sentence of Mubarak Bala, from 24 years to five. The UK Government continues to raise Mr Bala's case with the Nigerian authorities. In August 2023, the British High Commissioner handed over a letter from Fiona Bruce MP, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, on Mubarak Bala's case, to the Kano State Governor, and in January 2024, FCDO officials raised the case again with the Deputy Kano State governor. In the UK, officials remain in communication with Humanists UK and received an update on Mr Bala's case from them on 16 May. The right of individuals to express opinions, including expressing their non-belief, is essential to a free and open society. Dialogue on human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, will remain an important part of the UK's partnership with Nigeria.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings from their consultation on lifting the cap on faith-based admissions in religious free schools; and the possible socio-economic impacts of lifting the cap.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The consultation was launched on 1 May 2024 and will run for seven weeks, closing on 20 June 2024.
The department will then carefully consider all responses to the consultation and use them to inform the department’s recommendations for better meeting the policy objectives of faith schools.
The government’s response will be published on the GOV.UK website within 12 weeks following closure of the consultation.