HOME OFFICE IMMIGRATION RULES AFFECTING POOJARIES

Early day motion 661, tabled 21 July 2005 by Baroness Teather (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 26 members.

That this House notes with concern the implications for Hindu temples of the new Home Office immigration rules affecting ministers of religion, effective from 31st August 2004, which require all such ministers to demonstrate fluency in the English language to level 4; further notes that this hampers the recruitment of Poojaries in particular, whose roles are highly specialised and who are trained in India; further notes that the role of a Poojari does not involve preaching to the congregation and that this role is generally performed by Swarmis, Sadhus or Hindu preachers, who have knowledge of English; further notes that the Poojari's job requires knowledge of Hindu texts written in Sanskrit and knowledge of Gujarati and Hindi for sung worship, but not English; welcomes the Home Office's decision to re-open consultation on the effect of these rules on Poojaries; recognises the important role played by community organisations such as the Hindu Forum of Britain and the Hindu Council UK in persuading the Home Office to look again at these rules; further notes that the consultation closed on 31st May; and calls on the Home Office to recognise the difficulties that the rules have caused Hindus and for account of these to be taken by ensuring that the Government responds to the consultation as quickly as possible.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 13, Labour 10, Conservative 1, Respect 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.