Oral Answers to Questions

Sandy Martin Excerpts

Thursday 13th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sandy Martin (Ipswich) (Lab)]

12. What steps the Government are taking to tackle Islamophobia.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Nigel Adams)]

Let me be clear; the Government deplore hate crime, and we are determined to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get on in life free from harassment and fear. We are strengthening the cross-Government working group on anti-Muslim hatred. My Department and the Home Office fund Tell MAMA, which is the leading service for recording anti-Muslim incidents and supporting victims.

[Sandy Martin]

What discussions has the Minister had with social media companies about improving the way in which they take down anti-Muslim and Islamophobic hate crime messages from their platforms?

[Nigel Adams]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: it is important that we continue dialogue with social media companies. Across Government, colleagues are already having such discussions with social media companies, and it is important that anything that incites hatred is taken down immediately. I hope that the social media companies are listening.