Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for religious organisations and places of worship of having to register as non-governmental organisations in Nepal.

The reforms to Nepal's 2017 National Penal Code require most religious groups to register as non-governmental organisations. However, non-governmental organisations in Nepal are not permitted to promote or preach religion. This risks threatening freedom of religious expression.

I raised my concerns about freedom of religious expression with the Ambassador of Nepal on 9 October with particular reference to Christian minorities. The British Embassy in Kathmandu has also raised this matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will continue to press the Government of Nepal to ensure the legal framework governing this freedom fully complies with international standards.