Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of public sensitivity caused by Marks and Spencer's refusal to acknowledge and use the words "Jesus Christ" in a greeting attached to a gift purchased within its premises, they have issued guidance on the application of equality legislation to policies to be adopted by companies in respect of words and phrases they are prepared to reproduce when offering such a service; and if so, in what terms.

Statutory guidance about compliance with equality legislation is issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and is intended to give businesses and service providers the information they need to understand the Act and meet their responsibilities.

A copy of the guidance can be found at:

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publication/services-public-functions-and-associations-statutory-code-practice

The Government has no current plans to supplement this guidance.