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| | Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) bill
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| | | To move the following Clause— |
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| | | | “Judaeo-Christian tradition |
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| | | In observing the provisions in this Act, councils shall keep in mind the pre- |
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| | | eminence of the Judaeo-Christian tradition as the historical foundation of the |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 5, at beginning insert “Subject to section 138BB” |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 5, after “England”, insert “or Wales” |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 5, after “may”, insert “if it has been resolved by a two thirds |
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| | majority of the members of the council, in a meeting called specifically for that purpose” |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 5, leave out “may” and insert “shall” |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 8, at end add— |
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| | | “( ) | in no case may more than three minutes be devoted to business under this |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 10, after “England”, insert “or Wales” |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 15, at end add— |
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| | | “(4) | Subsections (1) and (2) do not reduce the obligations of the authority not to |
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| | | (a) | those with religious beliefs different from those supported or espoused in |
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| | | the prayers or other observances referred to in this section; or |
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| | | (b) | those without religious beliefs, |
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| | | | and to treat them equally in line with the Public Sector Equality Duty under the |
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| | | Equality Act 2010, section 149.” |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 17, at beginning insert “Subject to section 138BB” |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 17, after “England”, insert “or Wales” |
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| | Clause 1, page 1, line 17, after “may”, insert “if it has been resolved by a two thirds |
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| | majority of the members of the council, in a meeting called specifically for that purpose” |
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| | Clause 1, page 2, line 2, after “England”, insert “or Wales” |
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| | Clause 1, page 2, line 7, at end insert— |
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| | | “138BB | Local referendum on religious observances |
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| | | (1) | If a local authority wishes to use powers under sections 138A or 138B, it must |
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| | | obtain the consent of the electorate through a local referendum. |
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| | | (2) | The referendum is to be held on a date decided by the local authority and may be |
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| | | held on the ordinary day of local elections. |
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| | | (3) | The persons entitled to vote in the referendum are those who, on the day of the |
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| | | referendum would be entitled to vote as electors at an election for councillors of |
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| | | (4) | The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to the conduct of |
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| | | referendums under this section. |
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| | | (5) | If a local authority wishes to use powers under section 138A, the question to be |
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| | | asked is of the form “The council of the (County/City/Borough/District) of —— |
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| | | ————— proposes to hold religious observances as part of the formal business |
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| | | of council meetings. Do you agree that the council should be allowed to do this?” |
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| | | (6) | If a local authority wishes to use powers under section 138B, the question to be |
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| | | asked is of the form “The council of the (County/City/Borough/District) of —— |
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| | | ———— proposes to support and/or be formally represented at religious events. |
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| | | Do you agree that the council should be allowed to do this?” |
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| | | (7) | If the majority of persons voting in the referendum under either subsection (5) or |
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| | | (6) approve of the proposal, the local authority may use the powers under the |
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| | | respective sections 138A or 138B for four years from the calendar date of the |
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| | | (8) | In no event may a further referendum be held within four years of the day on |
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| | | which a referendum under this section has been held.” |
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| | | Bill read the third time, and passed. |
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