Ed Miliband MP Parliamentary Secretary Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall London, SW1A 2AS

13 April 2007

Thank you for your letter of 29 March responding to mine about the Cabinet Office grant of £1.5 million to the Association.

Your letter states that ‘Individuals may join the Scouts either as a Full Member if they feel able to take the or as an Associate Member if they prefer not to take the Promise. Both can then join the Scout activities.’

You thus acknowledge that the Scout Promise required for full membership is impossible (without rank hypocrisy) for atheists, humanists and others with no religious beliefs.

It is true that Associate Members do not need to make this Promise.

However, it is totally wrong to say that ‘both [Full and Associate Members] can then join the Scout activities’.

The Scout Association requires that Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, members of the Scout Network and adults with warranted appointments are Members. Rules 4.1.p and 4.1.q state that they become Members by making the Promise. (The relevant rules are attached for your information). Youngsters cannot become Associate Members. Those youngsters who are unable to make the Scout Promise are thus excluded from the Scout activities described in your letter, including the Centenary World Scout .

Your letter implies that the award was made with an understanding that Scout activities were equally available to all youngsters without discrimination based on religion or belief. This understanding is, sadly, very wrong, and it appears you may have been misled.

May I suggest that you write to the Scout Association1 and ask them to confirm our interpretation of their policies and rules, and ask them specifically whether Associate Members can become Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, or members of the Scout Network, and whether adult Associate Members can hold warranted appointments.

1 Mr D Twine, Chief Executive, Scout Association, , Chingford, London E4 7QW

If, as we believe, the answer is in each case ‘no’, you might also wish to ask whether the movement in several other countries has not already introduced alternative forms of Promise suitable for atheists, humanists and all those with non- religious beliefs. We have been told this is true of Belgium, Canada, the Czech republic, Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Thailand as well as of the Girl Scouts in the USA, but we do not have documentary evidence.

If the Scout Association confirms that this is the case, can I urge you to ask the Scout Association to introduce such an alternative in the UK as a matter or urgency.

If they refuse to do this, I would ask you again to cancel the funding you announced for their centenary jamboree.

Not taking this action would be inconsistent with the principles of equality and non-discrimination to which your government is committed.

If the Scout Association has very recently amended its rules so that children and young people can become members and adults can become members and hold a warrant without making a promise to a god, we would be pleased to have this confirmed to us so that we can advise all the adults and young people who contact us about this appropriately.

Hanne Stinson Chief Executive

Rule 4.1: Membership of the

AMENDMENT: amended July 2004 to reflect the changes of age limits. Addition of District Scout Network a) No individual aged 18 or over may be permitted to undertake any responsibilities or involvement within Scouting until the appropriate enquiries have been made. b) There are two types of membership - Members and Associate Members. c) British Subjects who are prepared to follow the Association's principles by making the Promise may become Members or Associate Members of the Scout Movement (subject to the Rules contained within Policy, Organisation and Rules). d) Foreign residents in the , with the approval of an appropriate Commissioner, may become Members or Associate Members. e) When an individual becomes a Member that person becomes a member of a Group, District and County (as appropriate). They also become a Member of The Scout Association and of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement. f) When an individual becomes an Associate Member that person becomes a member of a Group, District and County (as appropriate). They also become a Member of The Scout Association. g) Membership of Beaver Scout Colonies, Packs, Scout Troops and Explorer Scout Units is open to males and females (unless otherwise stipulated). h) Adult Membership of the Scout Movement, whether by appointment or otherwise, is open equally to men and women. i) The minimum age limit for membership is 5¾ years. j) The minimum age limit for appointment is 18. There is no maximum age limit for membership. k) Rule deleted l) There are membership options for adults not holding appointments to become Members or Associate Members on ceasing to hold an appointment. m) Members or Associate Members do not have any rights, actual or implied, to take part in the national management of The Scout Association or the World Organisation of the Scout Movement.

Members n) The following are required to be Members and pay the Headquarters Membership Subscription annually: • Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts, members of Scout Network; • those adults with Warranted Appointments; • Associate Members and other adults who opt to be Members. o) Members must also pay any County, District and Group Membership Subscription determined locally. p) Young people become Members of the Scout Movement by making the Promise appropriate to their Section. q) Adults become Members by making the Promise and completing a Members' Declaration. r) Members of the Movement may: • wear the approved uniform (see Chapter 10); • wear the World Membership badge; • receive benefits provided by any Group, District, and County to which the Member belongs and of The Scout Association and the World Organisation of the Scout Movement; • wear the World Membership lapel badge.

Associate Members s) The following are required to be Associate Members and pay the Headquarters Membership Subscription annually: • Members of the Scout Fellowship; • Section Assistants; • Group and District Skills Instructors holding Certificates of Appointment; • Group & District Advisers; • District Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer; • other adults who opt to be Associate Members. t) Associate Members must also pay any County, District and Group Membership Subscription determined locally. u) Adults become Associate Members of the Scout Movement by completing an Associate Members' Declaration. v) Associate Members are not required to make the Promise.