Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Mann Excerpts
Wednesday 23rd January 2013

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Secretary of State was asked—
Lord Mann Portrait John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab)
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1. What recent assessment she has made of the level of anti-Semitism in Northern Ireland.

Theresa Villiers Portrait The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mrs Theresa Villiers)
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The Community Security Trust, which monitors anti-Semitic activities, estimates that there were fewer than 10 incidents in Northern Ireland last year. As we approach Holocaust memorial day, I know the whole House will join me in condemning anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred on the grounds of a person’s ethnicity, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

Lord Mann Portrait John Mann
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I thank every Northern Ireland politician and every Northern Ireland party present in the House today for their active engagement in the parliamentary committee against anti-Semitism. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the interests and concerns of the very tiny Jewish community in Northern Ireland remain an important priority, despite their smallness in number?

Theresa Villiers Portrait Mrs Villiers
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I can give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. He is right that the Jewish community in Northern Ireland is small—around 200, I believe—but that does not make it any less important to combat anti-Semitism. This is a disgraceful crime. The UK Government take it very seriously, and I would like to pay tribute to the hon. Gentleman for his work on combating anti-Semitism throughout the UK.