§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received representations from Canon Kevin Byrne of St. Lawrence's, Birkenhead, in the form of sermon delivered on 7 February, relating to Her Majesty's Government's policy on capital punishment, sexual offences reform, the media, racial discrimination and other related matters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdCanon Byrne sent me a copy of his sermon for Sunday 7 February. His address discussed the theme of social cohesion which I had raised in a speech to the Peel Society on 5 February and which I returned to at a fringe meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England on 10 February. Mr. Byrne made a number of criticisms of successive Governments. A reply was sent from my office on 24 February.