§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 23 December 1982 to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman), Official Report, c. 676, and in the light of the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Birch and Moffatt v Broxbourne borough council, whether he has now completed his consideration as to whether any change in the law to exempt meeting rooms of the Exclusive Brethren from rates, as places of religious worship should be made; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawAs I indicated in my speech on 20 January in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Beeston (Mr. Lester) I am still considering the implications of the decision by the Court of Appeal both for the Exclusive Brethren and for other religious groups which may be affected by it.—[Vol. 35, c. 580.]