Oral Answers to Questions

Jeremy Lefroy Excerpts
Tuesday 26th February 2019

(5 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Lefroy Portrait Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con)
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4. What steps his Department is taking to help tackle the persecution of Christians overseas.

Maria Caulfield Portrait Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con)
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7. What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in China on the persecution of Christians in that country.

Jeremy Hunt Portrait The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Jeremy Hunt)
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The UK has long championed freedom of religion, but I am concerned that we could do more for the 240 million Christians estimated to be facing persecution for their faith around the world. I have therefore asked the Bishop of Truro to conduct an independent review into what more the FCO can do. Last week, I agreed the terms of reference for his review.

Jeremy Lefroy Portrait Jeremy Lefroy
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I thank the Foreign Secretary for that review. When I meet Christians from countries where they are under pressure or persecuted, I see loyal citizens who contribute enormously to those countries, whether in health, education, business or so much else. Why do those countries persecute their citizens for their faith?

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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It is often because they are in the grip of totally misguided ideologies. I thank my hon. Friend for his long championing of this issue. It is a little known fact that around 80% of the people who suffer persecution for their faith are Christians, often in some of the poorest countries in the world—and particularly in the middle east, which 100 years ago had a population that was about 20% Christian. Now that is down to 5%.