Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will update and publish a new hate crime action plan.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

On 9 March 2026, the Government published Protecting What Matters, which outlines our approach to improving social cohesion, including the steps we are taking to combat hate crime.

The Government is currently prioritising the implementation of measures outlined in Protecting What Matters, as well as continuing existing programmes to address hate crime and religious hatred.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether all departments are currently using the non-statutory definition of anti‑Muslim hostility published in March; and, if not, when they expect all departments to implement and apply that definition.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government has adopted its definition of anti-Muslim hostility across all central government departments who will use the definition to guide relevant policy development and delivery. We are also engaging central and local public authorities to understand how the definition can be usefully applied in their contexts.

More broadly, the Government is taking sustained action to keep Muslims safe, support victims, and challenge hatred. This includes strengthening protective security through record funding of £40 million and committing £4 million to tackle anti-Muslim hostility as a first step. We will also appoint a special representative on anti-Muslim hostility, with further details on this role to be set out in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the key drivers of the rise in anti-Muslim hostility; and what steps they are taking to address them.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government has adopted its definition of anti-Muslim hostility across all central government departments who will use the definition to guide relevant policy development and delivery. We are also engaging central and local public authorities to understand how the definition can be usefully applied in their contexts.

More broadly, the Government is taking sustained action to keep Muslims safe, support victims, and challenge hatred. This includes strengthening protective security through record funding of £40 million and committing £4 million to tackle anti-Muslim hostility as a first step. We will also appoint a special representative on anti-Muslim hostility, with further details on this role to be set out in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address hate crime against Muslim women and to improve Muslim women's safety in public spaces.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government has adopted its definition of anti-Muslim hostility across all central government departments who will use the definition to guide relevant policy development and delivery. We are also engaging central and local public authorities to understand how the definition can be usefully applied in their contexts.

More broadly, the Government is taking sustained action to keep Muslims safe, support victims, and challenge hatred. This includes strengthening protective security through record funding of £40 million and committing £4 million to tackle anti-Muslim hostility as a first step. We will also appoint a special representative on anti-Muslim hostility, with further details on this role to be set out in due course.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the special representative on anti-Muslim hostility will be a paid position; if so, what remuneration will be provided; what the expected weekly time commitment for the role will be; what the remit of the role will be; whether the postholder will be allocated a budget; if so, what the budget will be used for; and whether funding for the role will be provided from the fund to tackle anti-Muslim hostility.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government has adopted its definition of anti-Muslim hostility across all central government departments who will use the definition to guide relevant policy development and delivery. We are also engaging central and local public authorities to understand how the definition can be usefully applied in their contexts.

More broadly, the Government is taking sustained action to keep Muslims safe, support victims, and challenge hatred. This includes strengthening protective security through record funding of £40 million and committing £4 million to tackle anti-Muslim hostility as a first step. We will also appoint a special representative on anti-Muslim hostility, with further details on this role to be set out in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the suspension of student visas on Afghan women who are prohibited by the Taliban from accessing higher education in Afghanistan; and whether they will introduce an exemption for women offered places at UK universities.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no current plans to introduce exceptions to the visa brake. However, the government has recently announced the development of new safe and legal routes to offer sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution from around the world. We will ensure that these routes will be sustainable, well-managed and in line with UK capacity to support new refugees. It is expected that the student refugee route will be open for applications from Autumn 2026, with the first students arriving in Autumn 2027.

The visa brake is being kept under regular review. It is not intended to be permanent and will be released once the government considers it appropriate to do so.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they will use to review the visa brake currently applying to Afghan students; and when they expect the first review to take place.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government has no current plans to introduce exceptions to the visa brake. However, the government has recently announced the development of new safe and legal routes to offer sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution from around the world. We will ensure that these routes will be sustainable, well-managed and in line with UK capacity to support new refugees. It is expected that the student refugee route will be open for applications from Autumn 2026, with the first students arriving in Autumn 2027.

The visa brake is being kept under regular review. It is not intended to be permanent and will be released once the government considers it appropriate to do so.

Found: met in Committee Room 2 Present: Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (Chair) Baroness Gerada Baroness Gohir

Found: Members present: Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (The Chair); Baroness Barran; Baroness Gerada; Baroness Gohir

Found: of all, a maternity commissioner has been asked for in multiple reports, going right back to Baroness Gohir

Found: Committee met in Committee Room 3 Present: Baroness Barran (Acting Chair) Baroness Gerada Baroness Gohir

Found: met in Committee Room 3 Present: Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws (Chair) Baroness Barran Baroness Gohir

Found: Apologies and notices Apologies were received from the Lord Bishop of Derby, Baroness Gerada, Baroness Gohir

Found: met in Committee Room 1 Present: Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (Chair) Baroness Gerada Baroness Gohir

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (The Chair); Baroness Gerada; Baroness Gohir

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (The Chair); Baroness Barran; Baroness Gohir

Found: 2026 11.40 am Watch the meeting Members present: Baroness Barran (The Chair); Baroness Gerada; Baroness Gohir

Found: 2026 10.35 am Watch the meeting Members present: Baroness Barran (The Chair); Baroness Gerada; Baroness Gohir