Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what individual diversity networks, and trade union diversity networks, are recognised by the Ministry of Defence and each of the Armed Forces.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises a comprehensive range of diversity networks which are listed below.
In addition, the MOD recognises five main Trade Unions, (Prospect, PCS, FDA, GMB and Unite). The MOD’s Trade Unions have Diversity and Inclusion networks aimed at supporting their members however the MOD does not recognise nor engage directly with those networks.
Race Networks
Disability and Carers Networks
Gender Networks
LGBT Networks
Families Networks
Faith and Belief Networks
Social Mobility Networks
Wellbeing and Support
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales.
Answered by Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is aware that humanists have long been campaigning to conduct legally binding weddings, and we are grateful for the contributions that humanists make to our society.
The Law Commission’s 2022 report on weddings law made 57 recommendations for the wholesale reform of weddings law, including recommendations that would enable non-religious belief groups, such as humanists, to conduct legally binding weddings. The Law Commission also concluded that weddings law is not working for couples belonging to many different groups, and that it is unfair and inconsistent.
Marriage will always be one of our most important institutions and we have a duty to consider any changes to our marriage law carefully. As a new Government, it is right that we take the time to consider this issue, and we will set out our position on weddings reform in the coming months.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of legally recognising humanist wedding ceremonies.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Government is aware that humanists have long been campaigning to conduct legally binding weddings. We are grateful for the contributions that humanists make to our society.
The Law Commission’s 2022 report on weddings raises a number of issues around weddings law. Given marriage will always be one of our most important institutions, it is right that as a new Government we take the time to carefully consider this report before we set out our position in the coming months.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on legally binding humanist marriages in England and Wales.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
I pay tribute to my Hon. Friend for her long-standing work in support of humanist issues, and I am aware that humanists have long been campaigning for legally binding humanist weddings. The Law Commission published a report on weddings in July 2022 containing 57 recommendations to reform weddings law. We are considering these recommendations and will confirm our position in the coming months.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to provide a breakdown of all religious festivals celebrated by the Department in 2023.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Faith & Belief Network (FBN) supports DWP colleagues and managers and the department by providing insight into issues relating to Faith, Belief and Non-Belief.
In 2023, DWP celebrated or signposted to the following faith festivals and events, via blogs, live events and podcasts:
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of legally recognising humanist marriages.
Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
We are aware that weddings are an important issue for humanists and that the Law Commission has made recommendations for wholesale change of weddings law in July 2022. We will take the time as a new Government to properly consider this issue. We will set out our next steps on our manifesto commitment to strengthen rights and protections for women in cohabitating couples in the near future.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made recent representations to the government of Nigeria in relation to (1) the ongoing detention of Mubarak Bala, President of the Nigerian Humanist Association; and (2) securing his unconditional and immediate release.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
The UK Government is aware that the Court of Appeal in Kano has reduced the sentence of Mubarak Bala, from 24 years to five. The UK Government continues to raise Mr Bala's case with the Nigerian authorities. In August 2023, the British High Commissioner handed over a letter from Fiona Bruce MP, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, on Mubarak Bala's case, to the Kano State Governor, and in January 2024, FCDO officials raised the case again with the Deputy Kano State governor. In the UK, officials remain in communication with Humanists UK and received an update on Mr Bala's case from them on 16 May. The right of individuals to express opinions, including expressing their non-belief, is essential to a free and open society. Dialogue on human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, will remain an important part of the UK's partnership with Nigeria.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of legally recognising humanist marriages.
Answered by Mike Freer
In July 2019 we invited the Law Commission to undertake a wholesale review on weddings law in England and Wales. As part of that review, the Government invited the Law Commission to make recommendations about how marriage by humanist and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent.
The Law Commission report was published in July 2022 and contains 57 recommendations for extensive legislative reform. The Government is carefully considering these recommendations, and a response will be published in due course.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for what reason his Department decided that the Independent Faith Engagement Review call for evidence should be open for 28 days; and whether he sought independent advice on this decision.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
In relation to the call for evidence, information is in the process of being deleted according to our published privacy notice.
In relation to additional in-person meetings and any written evidence submitted to the reviewer outside the call for evidence, I want to re-iterate that as an Independent reviewer, Colin Bloom was free to meet with any individuals or organisations he chose to inform his review. He was not under any obligation to inform officials of his meetings or to pass on any written evidence.
As an Independent reviewer, Colin Bloom met with a with a wide range of stakeholders - including charities, organisations, academics and other sectoral experts and key individuals of all faiths and none - whom he deemed to have relevant insight into particular themes relevant to his report. Given the sensitive issues covered in his review, Colin Bloom was committed to preserving respondents' anonymity so they could speak freely. While these anonymised sources and external analysis have informed the review, the views and recommendations expressed are Mr Bloom's own.
With this in mind, we can provide the following information:
Religion | Respondent Count | Percentage of Respondents |
Christian | 9874 | 47.01% |
Muslim | 4189 | 19.94% |
Hindu | 2522 | 12.01% |
Atheist/Humanist | 2466 | 11.74% |
Pagan | 381 | 1.81% |
Sikh | 354 | 1.69% |
Jain | 253 | 1.20% |
Ahmadi Muslim | 247 | 1.18% |
Jewish | 210 | 1.00% |
Buddhist | 71 | 0.34% |
Bahá'í | 47 | 0.22% |
Quaker | 38 | 0.18% |
Spiritual | 29 | 0.14% |
Spiritualist | 14 | 0.07% |
Zoroastrian | 10 | 0.05% |
Taoist | 4 | 0.02% |
Dual religious identities | 82 | 0.39% |
Multiple religious identities | 54 | 0.26% |
Prefer not to say | 80 | 0.38% |
N/A | 78 | 0.37% |
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham Edgbaston)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many and what proportion of (a) respondents to the call for evidence and (b) people who gave evidence in person to the Independent Faith Engagement Review were from the Sikh community.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
In relation to the call for evidence, information is in the process of being deleted according to our published privacy notice.
In relation to additional in-person meetings and any written evidence submitted to the reviewer outside the call for evidence, I want to re-iterate that as an Independent reviewer, Colin Bloom was free to meet with any individuals or organisations he chose to inform his review. He was not under any obligation to inform officials of his meetings or to pass on any written evidence.
As an Independent reviewer, Colin Bloom met with a with a wide range of stakeholders - including charities, organisations, academics and other sectoral experts and key individuals of all faiths and none - whom he deemed to have relevant insight into particular themes relevant to his report. Given the sensitive issues covered in his review, Colin Bloom was committed to preserving respondents' anonymity so they could speak freely. While these anonymised sources and external analysis have informed the review, the views and recommendations expressed are Mr Bloom's own.
With this in mind, we can provide the following information:
Religion | Respondent Count | Percentage of Respondents |
Christian | 9874 | 47.01% |
Muslim | 4189 | 19.94% |
Hindu | 2522 | 12.01% |
Atheist/Humanist | 2466 | 11.74% |
Pagan | 381 | 1.81% |
Sikh | 354 | 1.69% |
Jain | 253 | 1.20% |
Ahmadi Muslim | 247 | 1.18% |
Jewish | 210 | 1.00% |
Buddhist | 71 | 0.34% |
Bahá'í | 47 | 0.22% |
Quaker | 38 | 0.18% |
Spiritual | 29 | 0.14% |
Spiritualist | 14 | 0.07% |
Zoroastrian | 10 | 0.05% |
Taoist | 4 | 0.02% |
Dual religious identities | 82 | 0.39% |
Multiple religious identities | 54 | 0.26% |
Prefer not to say | 80 | 0.38% |
N/A | 78 | 0.37% |