The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by visa type and nationality in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ on GOV.UK. Data on outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data is from January 2005 up to the end of March 2025.

Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’ on GOV.UK.

The data shows that 1 Religious Worker (RW) and 1 Minister Of Religion (MOR) visa have been issued since July 2024 with a total of 1 RW and 3 MOR visas issued since March 2023. For GDPR reasons, we cannot reveal the identity of the visa holders.

The Home Office keeps all immigration routes under review, including the T2 Minister of Religion and Temporary Work – Religious Worker routes.

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by visa type and nationality in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ on GOV.UK. Data on outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data is from January 2005 up to the end of March 2025.

Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’ on GOV.UK.

The data shows that 1 Religious Worker (RW) and 1 Minister Of Religion (MOR) visa have been issued since July 2024 with a total of 1 RW and 3 MOR visas issued since March 2023. For GDPR reasons, we cannot reveal the identity of the visa holders.

The Home Office keeps all immigration routes under review, including the T2 Minister of Religion and Temporary Work – Religious Worker routes.

The Deputy Prime Minister has held introductory meetings with the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE.

The Faith Minister, Lord Khan, chaired a roundtable with Muslim leaders on 8 August, and held a roundtable with interfaith practitioners on 9 August. He has met faith and community leaders following his visit to Southport and the North East on 21 August. Lord Khan has also met Pope Francis as part of an official visit to the Holy See. Visits to places of worship to meet the country’s faith communities will be carried out over the coming months.

On 10 September, Lord Khan chaired an introductory roundtable event with key faith and belief stakeholders to mark his appointment as Minister for Faith. The meeting was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister. The roundtable was attended by representatives from the following faiths and beliefs; Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, the Baháʼí Faith and Humanism. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement are committed to continuing to engage with Faith and Belief groups and will continue to do so.

The Home Office does not publish data that would cover this request.

The Home Office does not publish data that would cover this request.

The Home Office does not publish data that would cover this request.

The Home Office does not publish data that would cover this request.

The Home Office does not publish data that would cover this request.

Through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) the UK will relocate up to 20,000 people at risk. It will prioritise those who have stood up for values such as democracy and women’s rights in Afghanistan, as well as vulnerable groups, including ethnic and religious minorities.

Further information on the eligibility, prioritisation and referral of people for the ACRS is set out in the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September, available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement.

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) will prioritise vulnerable people including ethnic and religious minorities, as well as those who have stood up for values such as democracy and women’s rights in Afghanistan.

We will work with UNHCR and partners in the region to prioritise those in need of protection, such as ethnic, religious and other minority groups at risk.

Further information on the eligibility, prioritisation and referral of people for the ACRS is set out in the policy statement published on gov.uk on 13 September, available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-and-immigration-policy-statement.

The Government has formulated a combined response to the Member’s questions given the connected nature of the questions.

23 Chaplaincy Intervention Providers (IPs) were selected to deliver the Theological and Ideological Interventions (TII) Programme in prisons which launched in January 2019.

All were existing HMPPS Chaplaincy employees – recommended by HMPPS Counter-Terrorism specialist staff, and subject to Government vetting and due diligence checks. They are therefore not independent of government, but selected based on experience, knowledge and skills in challenging extremism.

Existing skills are supplemented with a diverse set of training; for example, in one-to-one interventions, theology, counter-narratives, and psychology. Training is delivered and reviewed in partnership with local Counter-Terrorism teams, and other practitioners working in complementary fields.

The recruitment of additional chaplains is kept under review to ensure needs are being met. We take continuous improvement seriously and consult community and academic partners wherever possible.

We are aware of reports about the continued harassment and mistreatment that the Christian and other minority groups face. The continued restrictions on freedoms of expression, religion and belief are deeply worrying. While some religious minorities are formally protected in the constitution, the reality is that many non-Muslims face discrimination. Despite constitutional recognition, the persecution of Christians has been continuous, systemic, and institutionalised.

We support the assessment of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights that discrimination against the Christians in Iran is sanctioned by a lack of constitutional recognition and the absence of other legal protections for adherents of this faith. We regularly call upon Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to protect freedom of religion or belief. Work has begun to implement the recommendations from the Bishop of Truro’s Review in a way that will bring real improvements in the lives of those persecuted because of their faith or belief.

The Government wrote to faith leaders in December, setting out the detail of the changes made to the Tier 5 religious worker visa.

We are embarking on an extensive programme of engagement, in connection with the future immigration system, and will be talking to representatives from a range of faith and community groups. Officials also remain in regular contact with their representatives.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a crime and constitutes child abuse. The Government is clear that we will not tolerate the practice, which can cause extreme and lifelong suffering to women and girls.

All applications for entry clearance and those seeking entry to the UK are considered on their merits and against the Immigration Rules. If an immigration decision maker is aware that an applicant advocates FGM then they should normally refuse the application.