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Parliamentary Report
June–September 2011
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2011
Extract
The period under review began with a speech by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to the Cinnamon Network, a faith-based charities group, in which he emphasised the Government's continued financial support and commitment to faith groups, while acknowledging with more than a touch of frustration that they can face barriers in terms of securing funding from local authorities:
In the eyes of some, being religious is seen as being ‘weird’. They don't want public discussion about faith and don't want faith to have a role in our communities. Everyone – whether religious or secular – loses out from that kind of attitude.
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References
1 A summary is available at <http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1924848>, accessed 24 September 2011.
2 Available at <http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/transcript-baroness-warsi%E2%80%99s-sternberg-lecture-speech>, accessed 24 September 2011.
3 Research Report 73: religious discrimination in Britain – a review of research evidence, 2000–10, available at <http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/research/research_report_73_religious_discrimination.pdf>, accessed 24 September 2011.
4 Equality and Human Rights Commission, ‘Religion or belief discrimination in Britain’, 20 June 2011, available at <http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/news/2011/june/religion-or-belief-discrimination-in-britain/>, accessed 24 September 2011.
5 See ‘Humanists call for EHRC Chair Trevor Phillips to apologise, following “sectarian and divisive” statements’, available at <http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/833>, accessed 24 September 2011.
6 Available at <http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/library/equality_act_summary.pdf>, accessed 23 September 2011.
7 Available at <http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Library/equality_act_guidance.pdf>, accessed 24 September 2011.
8 Available at <http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_charity/Do_I_need_to_register/regreq.aspx>, accessed 24 September 2011.
9 Available at <http://www.oscr.org.uk/media/28277/cb_constitutions_briefing_note.pdf>, accessed 22 September 2011.
10 Available at <http://www.oscr.org.uk/media/1931/Seeking%20charitable%20status%20in%20Scotland%20B60526%20FINAL.pdf>, accessed 22 September 2011.
11 ‘Liberal Democrat Conference 2011: Lynne Featherstone's speech in full’, Daily Telegraph, 17 September 2011, available at <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/liberaldemocrats/8770920/Liberal-Democrat-Conference-2011-Lynne-Featherstones-speech-in-full.html>, accessed 23 September 2011; BBC News, ‘Ministers to consult on legalising same-sex marriages’, 17 September 2011, available at <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14960357>, accessed 23 September 2011.
12 Home Office, ‘Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender equality’, available at <http://homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities/lgbt/>, accessed 23 September 2011.
13 See, for example, J Kelly, ‘Why would a straight couple want a civil partnership?’, BBC website, 27 October 2010, available at <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11625835>, accessed 23 September 2011.
14 The Registration of Civil Partnerships: same sex marriage – a consultation, available at <http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/357255/0120684.pdf>, accessed 27 September 2011.
15 Ibid, para 2.16.
16 Ibid, para 2.19.
17 Ibid, para 2.19.
18 Ibid, para 3.41.
19 HC Deb (2010–11) 8 September 2011 c 27WS.
20 Available at <http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_Bills/Offensive%20Behaviour%20at%20Football%20and%20Threatening%20Communications%20(Scotland)%20Bill/b1s4-introd.pdf>,accessed 24 September 2011; see also the (admirable) Scottish Parliament Information Centre briefing 11/48 at <http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_Bills/Offensive%20Behaviour%20at%20Football%20and%20Threatening%20Communications%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SB11-48.pdf>, accessed 24 September 2011.
21 See, for example, the submission to the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee by the Kirk's Church and Society Council and Faith in Community Scotland, available at <http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/7590/OR-04_Offensive_Bahaviour_at_Football_and_Threatening_Communications_Bill_August_20111.pdf>, accessed 24 September 2011.
22 Scottish Government news release, ‘First Minister meets Bishop of Paisley’, 7 October 2011, available at <http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/10/07162721>, accessed 7 October 2011.
23 For an example of similar issues in another jurisdiction see A Gianfreda, ‘Religious offences in Italy: recent laws concerning blasphemy and sport’, (2011) 13 Ecc LJ 182–197.
24 Available at <http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_ConsultationDocuments&propertyType=document&columns=1&id=HMCE_PROD1_031398>, accessed 24 September 2011. I should like to thank Helen Donoghue, Director of the Charity Tax Group, for commenting on this section in draft.
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