HC Deb 09 June 1993 vol 226 cc263-4
1. Mr. Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has undertaken into family life and Sunday church attendance in Scotland.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton)

The Scottish Office has sponsored a number of research projects which touch upon various aspects of family life in Scotland. Full details are given in the 1992–93 edition of the Scottish Office Register of Research, a copy of which is in the House library.

It is not for the Scottish Office to undertake research into church attendance.

Mr. Fabricant

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's answer. Is he aware that other research has shown that more people regularly worship in Scotland on Sundays than in England and Wales? Is he aware also that Scotland is unique in the United Kingdom, in that people are able to shop legally on Sundays in Scotland? Does my hon. Friend agree that England and Wales have a lot to learn from Scotland and that shops in England and Wales should be allowed to trade on Sunday, too?

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Both countries have a lot to learn from each other. Scotland is, as my hon. Friend suggested, a God-fearing nation. The situation in Scotland works very well, in large measure because Sunday opening has evolved in accordance with the wishes of the majority of residents. No doubt my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary, who is responsible for such matters, will take those points into account when he reviews the position in England.

Mr. Norman Hogg

Does the Minister agree that, notwithstanding what the hon. Member for Mid-Staffordshire (Mr. Fabricant) said, and notwithstanding the position of the Scottish Office, church attendance in Scotland could stand improvement? It was said in The Scotsman on Tuesday that I criticise the Church of Scotland, which of course is correct, as it was I who wrote that in the first place. Does the Minister agree further that Sunday trading in Scotland, as in England, is a matter for the people concerned, that it is no business of ours how people trade in England on a Sunday, but that most Scottish people support the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell)?

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's comments. A substantial number of people support both the Church of Scotland—the national church—and the Roman Catholic Church. There are more than 752,000 names on the Church of Scotland congregational roll and more than 745,000 on the Roman Catholic Church roll. That is the reality, and we would do well to keep it in mind.

Mr. McFall

Thirty-one per cent. of the Scottish population attend church. That is twice the number of Scots who support the Government's current policies. If we look at the Government's record on the family, we clearly see that "suffer the little children to come unto me" is not a motto which guides their actions. There are 800,000 people in Scotland on income support—that is one sixth of the population—and half of them are likely to be children living on the margins of society.

What future do those impoverished children face? No doubt, they will join the 8,700 16 and 17-year-olds who have been rendered destitute by the Government's failure and by their youth training scheme. [HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] Instead of condemning the Church, will the Government join the side of the Church? Unlike the Samaritan, they walk on the other side of the road. Is it not ridiculous for the Government to take that action?

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

I am glad to reassure the hon. Gentleman that nearly £80 billion is spent on social services throughout the United Kingdom, which is an enormous sum. The hon. Gentleman will be reassured to know that we are undertaking research into vital sectors which can be of assistance in Scotland. They include the impact of the Child Support Act 1991 on civil law and strategies for integrated local authority child care. We will continue in that process.

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