§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the(a) number and (b) percentage of imams in the United Kingdom who received their religious education and training outside the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [69788]
687W
§ Beverley HughesWe do not collect this information.
Our recent White Paper "Secure Borders, Safe Haven—Integration with Diversity in Modern Britain" contains a proposal to allow those present in the United Kingdom (UK) in some other capacity to fill local vacancies as ministers of religion. It is envisaged that it is more likely that those who have already spent some time in the UK will have absorbed something of our culture and be better able therefore to relate their particular faith to the context of the UK. In addition, someone who has been in the UK is more likely to be able to speak English, which will enable him or her to play their part effectively as a religious leader and aid community relations. It will also be easier to verify the religious training or studies that have been undertaken by individuals whilst in the UK.