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Holy Spirit Association

Volume 976: debated on Thursday 20 December 1979

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asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what inquiries were made into the credentials of the Holy Association for the Unification of World Christianity before this group was granted permission to hold carol services in Trafalgar Square on the evenings of 21, 22 and 23 December; what conditions have been imposed in respect of the collection of money in the course of these services; and what account was taken when granting permission of the fact that the Holy Association for the Unification of World Christianity is otherwise known as the Unification Church or the Moonies.

The association and its choirs have been given permission to sing carols on Trafalgar Square every year since 1969. No special inquiries were made on this occasion.The normal restrictions on the collection of money on the Square apply: money is only to be collected from bystanders listening to the carol singing; collecting from persons walking in the Square or on surrounding pavements is not authorised. Collections may only be taken during the period when the authorised organisation is conducting the carol service.The Holy Spirit Association is a registered charity and there are no grounds for withholding permission to collect money.