The gay Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust has added its voice to those of the hundreds of charities that are supporting the government’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. It also endorses the eminent scientist and fertility expert Professor Lord (Robert) Winston’s description of the Catholic Church’s statement on this as “lying” and “misleading”.

British Humanist Association has launched a new website of resources to support learning about Humanism at www.humanismforschools.org.uk, including videos featuring celebrated children’s author Philip Pullman. At the heart of the new site are six ‘toolkits’ of resources, each containing a slideshow of videos and other content, supported by teachers’ notes and student worksheets. In addition, downloadable PDFs contain revised versions of the BHA’s briefings on ethical and philosophical issues from a humanist perspective, previously hosted on the BHA’s main website and much used by teachers and students. Videos integrated into the toolkits (but also available to download from the site for use in other contexts) include humanists talking about their beliefs and values.

In a leading article in its latest issue, The Economist has come out for separation of church and state in the United Kingdom. Religion should have a smaller official role in Britain, not a greater one, according to the editorial.

Scotland is a small country of around 5 million people who are mostly clustered in a few large cities. Although it's part of the UK, Scotland has devolved government and operates a separate educational system from its neighbour, England.

At a debate on the motion, "This House has no faith in organized religion", IHEU Vice President Jack Jeffery supported freedom of religion or belief and highlighted negative effects of the activities of organized religions.

The Global Safe Abortion Conference 2007 organised by three NGOs: Marie Stopes International, Ipas and Abortion Rights, was held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London on 23 and 24 October. The conference addressed both national and international issues surrounding abortion, focusing on rights, access, advocacy and funding. The conference marked the 40th anniversary (27 October, 2007) of the United Kingdom's 1967 Abortion Act.

IHEU member organization Humanist Society of Scotland will hold its annual conference on 26-28 October 2007 in Pitlochry, Scotland on the theme "Sex Matters". The conference will begin with a debate on the motion "This house believes that prostitution should be decriminalised". Later in the weekend, speakers will include Maryam Namazie, National Secular Society Secularist of the Year and Community Services Officer of the British Humanist Association, and Tuppy Owens, Chair of The Sexual Freedom Coalition. Full details of the conference can be obtained from the organizer, Clare Marsh -- .

Regulations have come into effect to ban discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services, premises, and education throughout the whole of the UK.

By the Universities Tests Act of 1871, the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the UK became ‘freely accessible to the nation’. There was to be no discrimination against Catholics, Jews, Non-conformists and agnostics or atheists (except against women), and no obligation to subscribe to any religious belief (except for professors of divinity) or attend any form of public worship.