Context
The Church of England's assessment of the effectiveness of government policies has been raised as a matter of concern.
Question
What assessment has the Church of England made of the effectiveness of the Government’s policies on supporting freedom of religion or belief in other countries? The United Kingdom has long worked to promote pluralist values across the globe, welcoming the employment of my hon. Friend the Member for North Northumberland but there is more to do. Will the Second Church Estates Commissioner update the House on what conversations she and her colleagues have had with the Government on their efforts to emphasise the importance of supporting freedom of religion in their conversations with countries with which we are pursuing trade deals?
Answer from Marsha De Cordova
The Church is in regular dialogue with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and welcomes the Government’s continued commitment to implementing the findings of the Truro review. As part of its continuing conversations, the Church raises the importance of supporting freedom of religion with other countries, including those countries that the Government are pursuing trade deals with.
Not addressed: The specific request for an update on conversations was not fully addressed; instead, a general statement about ongoing dialogue was provided.
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