Written question asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 November 2003. It was answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Labour) on Thursday, 13 November 2003.

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Scotland of Asthal, Baroness

Question

Further to the answers by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 22 October 2003, 653 c1609-12, (a) what is the justification for creating a high-level steering group of Ministers from six government departments exclusively to consider the most effective means of achieving greater involvement of the faith communities in policy making and delivery across Whitehall; (b) what is meant by the reference to "developing and implementing policy"; and (c) whether they envisage that the group or any successor body will be involved (directly or indirectly) in consultation on Government policy; and further to the answers by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 22 October 2003, 653 c1609-12, in relation to the Jewish community, what response they made to the recent report by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (David Graham, Secular or religious? The outlook of London's Jews) indicating that the majority of respondents to a survey of the Jews in London and the south-east "located themselves on the secular side of the secular-religious continuum"; and further to the answers by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 22 October 2003, 653 c1609-12, whether they consulted representatives of the reform and liberal sections of the Jewish community before deciding to invite only the Chief Rabbi to represent the interests and views of religious Jews; and further to the answers by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 22 October 2003, 653 c1609-12, whether the 76.8 per cent of the United Kingdom's population referred to as regarding themselves as "having some religious affiliation" is regarded by the Government as equivalent to their having some belief; and if so, upon what evidence this is based. [HL 5116;HL 5117;HL 5118;HL 5119].

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Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

654 c212-4WA; HL 5116;HL 5117;HL 5118;HL 5119

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Community relations Jews Government departments Public participation Policy Ministers of religion Religion Judaism