“To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the effectiveness of the Government’s policies on supporting freedom of religion or belief in other countries.”
Asked by
Adam Jogee
Answering Minister
the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners
Answer from Hansard
Marsha De Cordova
The Prime Minister’s special envoy for freedom of religion or belief launched the Government’s new strategy on 8 July this year, and the Church welcomes that continuing commitment. Obviously it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the strategy, but the Church remains concerned about the global and local trends. The levels across countries are currently either high or very high, and Government restrictions on freedom of religion or belief are at their highest level since 2007.