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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/09/concerns-raised-over-churchs-donation-to-new-minister-damian-hinds
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| Concerns over Catholic church's 2014 donation to Damian Hinds | Concerns over Catholic church's 2014 donation to Damian Hinds |
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| The new education secretary accepted more than £5,000 from the Catholic church in 2014 to pay for a parliamentary intern. | The new education secretary accepted more than £5,000 from the Catholic church in 2014 to pay for a parliamentary intern. |
| Damian Hinds, who was appointed on Monday to succeed Justine Greening, listed the donation in the register of members’ interests as “an educational allowance of £5,116.25 and accommodation provided for an intern in my parliamentary office for 10 months”. | Damian Hinds, who was appointed on Monday to succeed Justine Greening, listed the donation in the register of members’ interests as “an educational allowance of £5,116.25 and accommodation provided for an intern in my parliamentary office for 10 months”. |
| The Catholic church is demanding the scrapping of a 50% cap on the selection of children on religious grounds at state-funded faith free schools. Hinds has publicly supported the removal of the cap, in contrast to Greening who defended it as a means of ensuring fair access to high-performing schools. | The Catholic church is demanding the scrapping of a 50% cap on the selection of children on religious grounds at state-funded faith free schools. Hinds has publicly supported the removal of the cap, in contrast to Greening who defended it as a means of ensuring fair access to high-performing schools. |
| In a debate in Westminster in 2014, Hinds said: “If [Catholic schools] were open to all, they would lose their distinctive character – not immediately, but over time.” | In a debate in Westminster in 2014, Hinds said: “If [Catholic schools] were open to all, they would lose their distinctive character – not immediately, but over time.” |
| There are more than 2,000 Catholic schools in England, about 10% of the total number of state-funded schools, educating more than 820,000 pupils, including 36% of other faiths or no faith. Many of the schools are over-subscribed. | There are more than 2,000 Catholic schools in England, about 10% of the total number of state-funded schools, educating more than 820,000 pupils, including 36% of other faiths or no faith. Many of the schools are over-subscribed. |
| Humanists UK, which has led a campaign against plans to drop the 50% cap on religious selection at free schools, said the funding of interns by the Catholic church “represents inappropriate influence within parliament and raises questions about conflict of interest”. | Humanists UK, which has led a campaign against plans to drop the 50% cap on religious selection at free schools, said the funding of interns by the Catholic church “represents inappropriate influence within parliament and raises questions about conflict of interest”. |
| Other MPs who have listed Catholic funding of around £5,000 for interns are Mike Kane, the shadow schools minister, and Emma Lewell-Buck, the shadow children and families minister. John Pugh, a former Liberal Democrat MP who was education spokesperson in 2002-05, accepted a £4,000 donation to fund an intern. | Other MPs who have listed Catholic funding of around £5,000 for interns are Mike Kane, the shadow schools minister, and Emma Lewell-Buck, the shadow children and families minister. John Pugh, a former Liberal Democrat MP who was education spokesperson in 2002-05, accepted a £4,000 donation to fund an intern. |
| The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, which represents the church, said it had run an intern scheme for the past 13 years involving more than 100 young people selected by the church. Many were placed in parliament with Catholic MPs from all parties. | The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, which represents the church, said it had run an intern scheme for the past 13 years involving more than 100 young people selected by the church. Many were placed in parliament with Catholic MPs from all parties. |
| “A lot of young people are interested in politics and public life. We think that’s a vocation, and it’s part of our public mission to give them a step up,” said Greg Pope, of the CBC. “It is categorically not the case that we expect anything in return from the MPs or the interns. The interns are working for the MPs, not the Catholic church.” | “A lot of young people are interested in politics and public life. We think that’s a vocation, and it’s part of our public mission to give them a step up,” said Greg Pope, of the CBC. “It is categorically not the case that we expect anything in return from the MPs or the interns. The interns are working for the MPs, not the Catholic church.” |
| Andrew Copson, of Humanists UK, said: “A third of state-funded schools in England are run by religious organisations, which are gifted broad freedoms to privilege and discriminate against children, parents, and teachers on the basis of religion. Given this, one would think that the level of religious influence over the education system is bad enough without the pernicious and deeply inappropriate political lobbying conducted by the Catholic church. | Andrew Copson, of Humanists UK, said: “A third of state-funded schools in England are run by religious organisations, which are gifted broad freedoms to privilege and discriminate against children, parents, and teachers on the basis of religion. Given this, one would think that the level of religious influence over the education system is bad enough without the pernicious and deeply inappropriate political lobbying conducted by the Catholic church. |
| “In light of the financial support that the new education secretary has received from the Catholic church, questions must surely be asked about whether or not Damian Hinds has a conflict of interest in making a decision on the 50% cap.” | “In light of the financial support that the new education secretary has received from the Catholic church, questions must surely be asked about whether or not Damian Hinds has a conflict of interest in making a decision on the 50% cap.” |
| A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Any financial interests of members are declared on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests and are a matter of public record. This donation and the details of what it was used for was published in 2014, in line with this process.” |