Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps have been taken by the Government in response to the recommendation in paragraph 6.2.4 of the Council of Europe Resolution 2036 (2015) on enabling Christians to fully participate in public life.

Britain has a proud tradition of religious tolerance, within the law. The Government is committed to creating a strong and integrated society in which hatred and prejudice are not tolerated and in which all people are free to express their religious identity and live without fear of harassment and crime.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people are protected against discrimination because of religion or belief, and that they are able to exercise the right to hold and manifest their beliefs in a reasonable manner. We support people’s right to conduct their lives in accordance with the Christian faith (as well as other faiths and beliefs) providing this does not unlawfully interfere with the rights of others.

More generally, the Government greatly values the vital role that Christian organisations – and individual Christians - have in our society and the participation they have in national life, inspiring a great number of people to get involved in public service and providing help to those in need, as well as acting as a moral beacon. Our Christian heritage is something that we can all be proud of.