Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that staff in his Department receive religious literacy training.

Training to develop religious literacy is provided at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and at a number of Embassies and High Commissions overseas. In London, staff are offered a two day course covering Abrahamic and Dharmic religions. This is supplemented by a range of training activities on specific religions and religious topics.

A religion and foreign policy element is being built into the syllabus offered to all staff through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Diplomatic Academy.