Asked by: Lord Godson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 21 January (HC Deb col 867), and further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 24 December 2024 (HC20228), what are the characteristics, policies or activities of (1) MEND, (2) CAGE, (3) the Muslim Association of Britain, and (4) the Muslim Council of Britain, that provide the basis for this Government’s policy of non-engagement with those individual organisations.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government will only engage with organisations when it is in the public interest.
Asked by: Lord Godson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government by what process their proposed definition of Islamophobia will be drafted; and what plans they have, if any, to outsource the process to a separate body or council of advisers.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 28 February 2025, we announced a working group which has been set up to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, supporting a wider stream of work to tackle the unacceptable incidents of anti-Muslim hatred.
It will advise government on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims.
The group’s proposed definition must be compatible with the unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression - which includes the right to criticise, express dislike of, or insult religions and/or the beliefs and practices of adherents. This work will support these important freedoms, ensuring that they are preserved.
The group will be chaired by Dominic Grieve KC, bringing his years of legal and government expertise to the role. Alongside drawing on their own expertise, members will engage widely to ensure the definition accounts for the variety of backgrounds and experiences of Muslim communities across the United Kingdom. Details of the members of the Group will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Godson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 5 September 2024 (HC2635), whether the Treasury approved the MHCLG efficiency saving of £5 million on legal fees relating to changing the last Administration's approach to extremism, and how that relates to the Home Office’s reference to those extremism definitions in the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 3 January (HC20295).
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
National security and keeping the citizens of this country safe will always be the highest priority for this Government. That is why, soon after the election last year, the Home Secretary commissioned a rapid review of extremism. The Government will set out their approach to countering extremism in due course. Meanwhile, we will continue to work with partners to tackle extremism wherever we find it.
Asked by: Lord Godson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 10 February (HC26476), whether the Government’s policy of non-engagement extends to not engaging with (1) Extinction Rebellion, (2) Just Stop Oil, and (3) Greenpeace.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We do not engage with Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil or Greenpeace.
Asked by: Lord Godson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in relation to the Community Right to Bid under the Localism Act 2011, how many assets of community value have been listed in England; how many groups have triggered the moratorium period; how many assets have been bought by community groups; and how much of the £150 million Community Ownership Fund announced in 2021 has been spent to date.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Community assets play a vital role in creating thriving neighbourhoods, where people meet, connect, and spend time together. The Government does not hold the information requested because this is a matter for local authorities.
The Community Ownership Fund has, so far, awarded £36.8 million to 150 projects across the United Kingdom. A total of £25.5 million has been allocated to 97 projects in England, £5.2 million allocated to 24 projects in Scotland, £3.2 million to 15 projects in Wales and £3 million to 14 projects in Northern Ireland. Round 3 Window 1 of the fund is now open and will close on 12th July.