Hate Crime: Anti-Semitism Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate

Lord Pickles

Main Page: Lord Pickles (Conservative - Life peer)

Hate Crime: Anti-Semitism

Lord Pickles Excerpts
Tuesday 11th February 2020

(4 years, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text
Baroness Berridge Portrait Baroness Berridge
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I agree with the noble Lord. He will be aware that the relevant Ministers have written to local authorities and universities asking them to adopt this definition. Noble Lords will be aware that I answered this question on behalf of the Department for Education not many months ago. The rate of take-up is not what the Government want. There is now a proposal that information about those universities and local authorities which have not signed up to the definition will in some form be made public.

Lord Pickles Portrait Lord Pickles (Con)
- Hansard - -

My Lords, I draw noble Lords’ attention to my declaration of interests and associate myself with the question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Mann. Given that anti-Semitism is often an open gateway to violent extremism, does the Minister think that now is an appropriate time for the Government to incorporate anti-Semitism into their Prevent strategy?

Baroness Berridge Portrait Baroness Berridge
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, I am unfortunately not aware of whether that has been proposed although, as noble Lords will know, we have recently reviewed the Prevent strategy. I will take my noble friend’s suggestion back, write to him and put the letter in the Library.