Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Faith-based Discrimination and Harassment

Wednesday 20 March 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Fleur Anderson questioned the Minister about the need to restart the anti-Muslim hatred working group and bring forward a new hate crime strategy.
  • The Minister responded by confirming the appointment of a new adviser on anti-Muslim hatred and engagement with the Muslim community.
  • Kirsten Oswald highlighted a 335% increase in Islamophobic hate cases and criticised the lack of convening the anti-Muslim hatred working group in over four years.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Community Security
Context

There has been a surge of antisemitism and Islamophobia recently, with the anti-Muslim hatred working group suspended since March 2020. The hate crime strategy is also four years old.

Question

There has been an appalling surge of antisemitism and Islamophobia in recent months, but the anti-Muslim hatred working group has been suspended since March 2020, and the hate crime strategy is four years old; we clearly need a new one to tackle the hate crime in our communities. Will the Minister commit to restarting the anti-Muslim hatred working group and bringing forward a new hate crime strategy?

Answer from Felicity Buchan

We will appoint a new adviser on anti-Muslim hatred. We are engaging with the Muslim community at senior levels. The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have recently met Tell MAMA, which plays a very important role in tackling hate crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to bringing forward a new hate crime strategy

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Q2 Fleur Anderson Lab Putney
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

There has been an increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia, with the anti-Muslim hatred working group suspended since March 2020.

Question

With the Government's commitment to tackling religious hatred and hate crime, will the Minister commit to restarting the anti-Muslim hatred working group and bringing forward a new hate crime strategy?

Answer from Felicity Buchan

We will appoint a new adviser on anti-Muslim hatred. We are engaging with the Muslim community at senior levels. The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities have recently met Tell MAMA.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to bringing forward a new hate crime strategy

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Q3 David Evennett Con
Women & Equalities
Context

The Inclusive Britain action plan aims to improve community cohesion and dialogue.

Question

Can the Minister give me some idea of recent progress on delivering the Inclusive Britain action plan?

Answer from Felicity Buchan

We have been doing lots of work on that, and will be releasing the report today.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details about recent progress made in delivering the Inclusive Britain action plan

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Q4 Kirsten Oswald SNP
Community Security Religion & Faith
Context

There has been a significant increase in Islamophobic hate cases, with the anti-Muslim hatred working group not convened since March 2020.

Question

In recent months there has been a 335% increase in Islamophobic hate cases. Despite this and despite having had the International Day to Combat Islamophobia recently, the UK Government have not convened the anti-Muslim hatred working group in more than four years. With the next anti-Muslim hatred adviser quitting over extremist threats, we need concrete answers. When will the Government take tackling Islamophobia seriously?

Answer from Felicity Buchan

On behalf of the Government, I pass on my condolences. We have made it incredibly clear that the Government are completely committed to tackling anti-Muslim hatred. We have upped the amount of money going towards the protection of mosques and Muslim faith schools. We are about to appoint a new anti-Muslim hatred adviser.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific actions or timelines for restarting the anti-Muslim hatred working group

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