HC Deb 15 September 2003 vol 410 cc513-4W
Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces profess(a) Christianity, (b) Judaism, (c) Islam, (d) Hinduism and (e) other faiths; how many chaplains from each faith are attached to the forces; and if he will make a statement. [129322]

Mr. Caplin

The numbers of armed forces personnel with the following recorded religion are:

Religion Number
Christianity 191,985
Judaism 65
Islam 280
Hinduism 140
Other 925

Note:

Figures have been rounded to prevent disclosure of sensitive personal data and exclude those with no recorded or declared religion.

There are 295 full-time commissioned chaplains in the armed forces, drawn from the main Christian denominations to which the majority of Service personnel belong. They have a responsibility to offer spiritual, moral and pastoral care to all Service personnel and their families, irrespective of religion or belief. The relatively small number of personnel from faiths other than Christianity, serving in a wide range of units and locations in the United Kingdom and overseas, does not at present justify the appointment of dedicated clergy from those faiths, but the position is kept under review. Leading members of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths have been appointed to act as religious advisers to the armed forces.

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