Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con)
I thank the hon. Member for Manchester Central (Lucy Powell) for her urgent question, and I thank my right hon. Friend the Minister for his statement. What are the Government doing through the Prevent strategy in schools and colleges? Obviously, Prevent is the thing that stops the conveyor belt to extremism.
Mr Wallace
My right hon. Friend makes an important point. If we are really to reduce the risk to our people, we need to invest in prevention. Although some people have issues with the Prevent scheme, we published the first lot of figures last week showing yet again that more than 200 people have been diverted away from following a path of violent extremism, and schools play one part of that role.
[Official Report, 28 March 2018, Vol. 638, c. 766.]
Letter of correction from Mr Wallace:
An error has been identified in the response I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon).
The correct response should have been:
Mr Wallace
My right hon. Friend makes an important point. If we are really to reduce the risk to our people, we need to invest in prevention. Although some people have issues with the Prevent scheme, we published the second lot of figures yesterday showing yet again that more than 200 people have been diverted away from following a path of violent extremism, and schools play one part of that role.
Mr Ivan Lewis (Bury South) (Ind)
Will he agree to meet the people leading the review on radicalisation policy in Greater Manchester, the leaders of Oldham Council and of Bury Council, to learn lessons about whether the Prevent programme is in fact working? There are massive differences of opinion on that. Will the Government agree to learn from the review that Greater Manchester is undertaking on radicalisation policy?
Mr Wallace
I am very happy to meet the people undertaking that review, but I must point out that the figures published yesterday and those published earlier in the month show that Prevent is working in many areas.
[Official Report, 28 March 2018, Vol. 638, c. 770.]
Letter of correction from Mr Wallace:
An error has been identified in the response I gave to the hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis).
Mr Wallace
I am very happy to meet the people undertaking that review, but I must point out that the figures published yesterday and last year show that Prevent is working in many areas.