What steps he plans to take to consult the public on a British statement of values.

In the coming months, we will be starting a series of consultations, using a range of formats, to involve the British people in the formulation of the statement and to give them a decisive role in the process.

I warmly welcome the Minister to his new post, and his appointment is long overdue. Recent opinion polls suggest that the British public think that the most important British values are a sense of fair play, a respect for minorities and the belief that everyone has the right to say precisely what they think. But has my hon. Friend watched "Little Britain" recently? Does he believe that one of the most important British values is our ability to laugh at ourselves?

There's a lot of them in this village, though!

I am grateful for the first words of welcome uttered by my hon. Friend, although I am not sure of the implication of his final remarks. However, I agree with everything that he has said and pay tribute to his contribution to the last of the British values that he identified. I look forward to his contribution to the consultation.

Our heritage and marine traditions lie at the heart of our British values, so will the Minister note the disappointment, both in the House and beyond it, that neither the heritage Bill nor the marine Bill were included in the preview of the Queen's Speech? Will he and his colleagues reconsider the matter?

I note the hon. Gentleman's question, and he is very welcome to participate in the consultation. It is precisely for that purpose that we are holding it.

Is not participatory democracy one of the great British values? Will the Minister recognise that the Government's Freedom of Information Act 2000 has been a great success in that regard? Given that it has caused no problems, will he and the Government consider removing some of the restrictions in the legislation that prevent information from being released?

I recognise entirely what the hon. Gentleman says. We are proud to have brought in the freedom of information legislation, which is making a substantial and significant contribution to democracy in this country. We are constantly reviewing the way it works, and I am sure that he and I will have further exchanges on that in the future.