§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Inner Cities Religious Council will hold its first formal meeting; and what its purpose and membership will be.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe first formal meeting of the Inner Cities Religious Council will take place on Monday 20 July. Members will be drawn from the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim anhd Sikh faiths, under my chairmanship.
The Inner Cities Religious Council will allow representatives of the faith communities to discuss policy and practical issues with Government and each other. It will give consideration to the needs of communities in inner cities and deprived urban areas, and the assistance available to meet them, and will also seek to create opportunities for action in such areas involving faith communities in partnership with other local residents, business, voluntary organisations and local and central Government.