Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with counter-terrorism policing units about online reports of threats to kill directed at mosques and Muslim communities.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
There is no excuse for violence or threats targeted at Muslim communities. The Government is committed to safeguarding the right to practise faith freely and safely, including at places of worship.
While we do not disclose details of operational discussions, the Home Secretary regularly meets Counter Terrorism Policing to discuss current threats and risks.
We have robust legislation to address threatening, abusive and harassing behaviour, including laws against inciting racial and religious hatred. Online hate is also a priority illegal harm under the Online Safety Act 2023, which places legal duties on platforms to proactively prevent and remove such content, and to take other steps to reduce abuse on their platforms.
We continue to support the police in taking strong action against those who seek to harm or intimidate communities.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to mosques and Islamic centres to strengthen security following recent vandalism, desecration, and threats of violence.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
There is no excuse for violence or threats targeted at Muslim communities and we support the police in taking strong action against those who carry out these crimes.
The Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to practise their religion freely at their chosen places of worship and community centres. We regularly work closely with the police to assess threats and review the protections in place for communities.
The Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides protective security measures, such as security personnel services, CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing, to mosques and associated Muslim faith community centres. These protective security measures are also available to Muslim faith schools. We have made up to £29.4 million available for this important work in 2025/26.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent series of attacks on mosques across the UK in August and September.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
There is no excuse for violence or threats targeted at Muslim communities and we support the police in taking strong action against those who carry out these crimes.
The Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to practise their religion freely at their chosen places of worship and community centres. We regularly work closely with the police to assess threats and review the protections in place for communities.
The Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides protective security measures, such as security personnel services, CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing, to mosques and associated Muslim faith community centres. These protective security measures are also available to Muslim faith schools. We have made up to £29.4 million available for this important work in 2025/26.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to community cohesion and national security posed by recent attacks on places of worship.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
There is no excuse for violence or threats targeted at places of worship and we support the police in taking strong action against those who carry out these crimes.
The Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to practise their religion freely at their chosen places of worship and community centres. We regularly work closely with the police to assess threats and review the protections in place for communities.
In 2025/26, up to £50.9 million is available to protect faith communities. This includes £18 million through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, £29.4 million through the Protective Security for Mosques scheme and for security at Muslim faith schools, and £3.5 million for the places of worship and associated faith community centres of all other faiths.
In addition, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is undertaking work to develop a more strategic approach to supporting communities and societal resilience more broadly.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Stephen Yaxley-Lennon’s supporter network made threats to kill Muslims; and whether any investigations have been conducted as a result of those reports.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
This Government takes extremism seriously and we are committed to ensuring we have the required tools and powers needed to address this issue. Efforts to counter extremism span a broad range of Government and law enforcement activity and we must persist in our efforts to challenge extremist narratives, disrupt the activity of radicalising groups, and directly tackle the causes of radicalisation.
Where the actions of individuals cross a legal threshold, the police will investigate and bring charges where there is evidence to support this.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what research briefings have been (1) produced for, and (2) commissioned by the Lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism; what was the subject of any such briefing; and if provided by an external party, who that was.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The independent Commission for Countering Extremism’s study into the threat we face from extremism and the current response, including advice on new policies to tackle it, will report to the Home Secretary and be published shortly. The Government expects the Lead Commissioner’s report to include advice on the Commission’s future structures, work programme and, if necessary, the appointment of further commissioners.
Once the Commission’s has reported to the Home Secretary on its study and it’s been published, the Government’s response will be a decision for the Home Secretary.
The Commission for Countering Extremism’s public Charter is clear that it’s a transparent body operating independently of the Government. This independence extends to its decision about who it engages with and the methodologies and content of its reports.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which individuals and organisations met with the Lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism during her first year in post; and what are the dates, locations, agenda and meeting outcomes of all such meetings.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The independent Commission for Countering Extremism’s study into the threat we face from extremism and the current response, including advice on new policies to tackle it, will report to the Home Secretary and be published shortly. The Government expects the Lead Commissioner’s report to include advice on the Commission’s future structures, work programme and, if necessary, the appointment of further commissioners.
Once the Commission’s has reported to the Home Secretary on its study and it’s been published, the Government’s response will be a decision for the Home Secretary.
The Commission for Countering Extremism’s public Charter is clear that it’s a transparent body operating independently of the Government. This independence extends to its decision about who it engages with and the methodologies and content of its reports.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability on 25 June 2018 (152869), what advice they received from the Lead Commissioner on Countering Extremism on the Commission for Countering Extremism’s future structures, work programme and the appointment of further commissioners; and what was their response to such advice.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The independent Commission for Countering Extremism’s study into the threat we face from extremism and the current response, including advice on new policies to tackle it, will report to the Home Secretary and be published shortly. The Government expects the Lead Commissioner’s report to include advice on the Commission’s future structures, work programme and, if necessary, the appointment of further commissioners.
Once the Commission’s has reported to the Home Secretary on its study and it’s been published, the Government’s response will be a decision for the Home Secretary.
The Commission for Countering Extremism’s public Charter is clear that it’s a transparent body operating independently of the Government. This independence extends to its decision about who it engages with and the methodologies and content of its reports.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 15 March 2018 (HLWS527), what assessment the Lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism has made of the threat of, and response to, extremism in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The independent Commission for Countering Extremism’s study into the threat we face from extremism and the current response, including advice on new policies to tackle it, will report to the Home Secretary and be published shortly. The Government expects the Lead Commissioner’s report to include advice on the Commission’s future structures, work programme and, if necessary, the appointment of further commissioners.
Once the Commission’s has reported to the Home Secretary on its study and it’s been published, the Government’s response will be a decision for the Home Secretary.
The Commission for Countering Extremism’s public Charter is clear that it’s a transparent body operating independently of the Government. This independence extends to its decision about who it engages with and the methodologies and content of its reports.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 15 March 2018 (HLWS527), when the first annual report of the Commission for Countering Extremism is expected to be published.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The independent Commission for Countering Extremism’s study into the threat we face from extremism and the current response, including advice on new policies to tackle it, will report to the Home Secretary and be published shortly. The Government expects the Lead Commissioner’s report to include advice on the Commission’s future structures, work programme and, if necessary, the appointment of further commissioners.
Once the Commission’s has reported to the Home Secretary on its study and it’s been published, the Government’s response will be a decision for the Home Secretary.
The Commission for Countering Extremism’s public Charter is clear that it’s a transparent body operating independently of the Government. This independence extends to its decision about who it engages with and the methodologies and content of its reports.