What progress the cross-party working group on religious hatred has made in respect of alleviating sectarianism.

The Cross-Party Working Group on Religious Hatred published its report containing 12 non-legislative recommendations for public consultation on 5 December 2002. The consultation ended on 14 March 2003 and the responses are currently being analysed. The working group's report supported adjustment to the current legal framework in relation to religious hatred. Provisions on offences aggravated by religious prejudice are included in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, which will come into effect on 27 June 2003.