Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which recommendations of the Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians are being prioritised; and if he will make a statement.

We are grateful to the Bishop for setting out ambitious recommendations. The report has identified specific steps that the British Government can take to address the issues faced by persecuted Christians around the world. We have accepted the recommendations in full and are working hard to implement them. On 12 September the Foreign Secretary welcomed the appointment of Rehman Chishti MP as the Prime Minister’s new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief who will build on the work of the former Envoy Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon. Mr Chishti is delighted with this appointment and looks forward to continuing to enhance the UK’s support for all those suffering persecution based on their faith.