“(1) There continues to be a special envoy called the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief.

(2) The special envoy is to be appointed by, and may be removed from office at any time by, a Minister of the Crown.

(3) The special envoy must act with a view to—

(a) promoting freedom of religion or belief abroad, in particular by working with the government of the United Kingdom, with other governments and their representatives (including special envoys), and with organisations outside government;

(b) raising awareness of cases in which people abroad are persecuted or discriminated against on the grounds of religion or belief and advocating for the rights of such people.

(4) The special envoy must from time to time give a report about their work to the Prime Minister.

(5) A Minister of the Crown may give the special envoy directions about the exercise of their functions.

(6) A Minister of the Crown—

(a) must provide the special envoy with such staff, accommodation, equipment and other facilities as the Minister considers necessary for the carrying out of the special envoy’s functions;

(b) may pay allowances or other payments to or in respect of the special envoy.

(7) The special envoy’s functions are exercisable on behalf of the Crown.”—

This new clause is intended to replace clauses 1 and 2. It includes largely the same material as those clauses but with several drafting and clarity-related changes.

Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.