To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 6 January 2010, on new faith advisers, what consideration he gave to appointing a representative of the Roman Catholic Church as an adviser. (311797)

The new panel of expert advisers on faith is not a representative body and there is therefore no requirement for it to include representatives of any denomination or faith. The Faith Communities Consultative Council which I jointly chair continues to be the main representative forum for consultation between Government and faith communities. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales is represented on the Council.