Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Angela Smith and Baroness Featherstone

Thursday 10th November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Lynne Featherstone]

We have an inter-ministerial group on violence against women and girls, to which the Department for Education sends a Minister. As the hon. Lady knows, issues relating to forced marriage are principally, though not exclusively, explored within personal, social and health education. The Department for Education continues to work closely with other Departments, and it reports to us in the inter-ministerial group.

[Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)]

3. What steps she is taking to tackle hate crime.

[The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone)]

Tackling hate crime is an issue that the Government take extremely seriously, and we are committed to doing more to support and protect victims. We are meeting the coalition commitment to improve the recording of such crimes, and working with the police and other partners to encourage more victims to come forward. We are also working with the Government’s independent advisory group to develop an action plan on tackling all forms of hate crime.

[Angela Smith]

Next week is anti-bullying week. What is the Minister going to do to tackle homophobic bullying in schools?

[Lynne Featherstone]

We take all bullying very seriously, including homophobic and transgender bullying. The Department of Health has issued new guidelines on bullying that are much more condensed and to the point. Also, Ofsted has now included behaviours in its inspection regime. The hon. Lady is right: this is an appalling form of hate crime, and we are dealing with it.