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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 3 March (HCWS487), and the Written Answer by Lord Khan of Burnley on 11 March (HL5102), why the terms of reference and full membership of the Anti-Muslim Hate/Islamophobia Definition Working Group have not yet been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Terms of Reference and full membership of the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working group have now been published on GOV.UK. I will deposit a copy of the Terms of Reference in the House Libraries.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure advice provided to ministers by the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group is open to scrutiny by Parliament.

Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Working Group’s terms of reference have been published on GOV.UK.

The Terms of Reference note that the advice the Group produces will be private initially, giving the Government the time and space to consider recommendations, including what a proposed definition/s should be and the merits for adopting a definition.

It is important that government is transparent in the actions it takes to address all forms of hatred, however any independent work should also have the space to consider sensitive and complex issues in private. This is the approach the Working Group will take when considering the appropriate and sensitive language to describe, understand and define unacceptable treatment, prejudice, discrimination and hate targeting Muslims or anyone who is perceived to be Muslim.

Once the Government has had time to review the advice, it will consider its next steps.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to place in the Library of the House a summary of (1) each meeting between the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement the chair of the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group, and (2) any advice received from the working group; and if they do not plan to do so, why not.

Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Working Group’s terms of reference have been published on GOV.UK.

The Terms of Reference note that the advice the Group produces will be private initially, giving the Government the time and space to consider recommendations, including what a proposed definition/s should be and the merits for adopting a definition.

It is important that government is transparent in the actions it takes to address all forms of hatred, however any independent work should also have the space to consider sensitive and complex issues in private. This is the approach the Working Group will take when considering the appropriate and sensitive language to describe, understand and define unacceptable treatment, prejudice, discrimination and hate targeting Muslims or anyone who is perceived to be Muslim.

Once the Government has had time to review the advice, it will consider its next steps.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of legal challenges when relying on the provision in Article 21 of the Cluster Munitions Convention allowing the United Kingdom to fight alongside states that are not party to that Convention.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Article 21 of the Cluster Munitions Convention allows for co-operation between States Parties and non-State Parties. The UK's interpretation of Article 21 is clear. UK personnel are not prohibited from military cooperation and operations with non-States Parties which may engage in activities prohibited to a State Party, but the use, production or transfer of cluster munitions remains prohibited in all circumstances for UK personnel as does the express request for the use of cluster munitions where the choice of munitions used is within the UK's exclusive control. This position is enshrined in UK law by the 'Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Act 2010', establishing criminal offences to enforce the prohibitions, while providing a defence for international military operations or co-operation activities. We also recognise our obligations under Article 21 to discourage States not party from using cluster munitions.

As Baroness Chapman laid out at the House of Lords debate on 3 April regarding Landmines and Cluster Munitions, the UK remains a committed State Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The UK continues to discourage the use of cluster munitions and further calls on all non-State Parties to ratify and accede to the Convention. Nevertheless, we have a long history of operating alongside states with different legal obligations whilst adhering to and promoting our own.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) operational, and (2) net, assessments they have made of the effectiveness of cluster munitions and anti-personnel landmines.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Cluster munitions and anti-personnel landmines present an enduring risk to civilians in the wake of conflict. The UK has successfully operated without anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions for fifteen and twenty-five years respectively, and in that time have developed alternative policies and systems.