Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the report presented to and discussed with the Council of Europe at its meeting between 24 and 29 January 2022 entitled Combating rising hate speech against LGBTI people in Europe, what assessment she has made of the implications of the conclusions of that report for her policies; and whether she plans to take steps in response to those conclusions.

We are aware of the Council of Europe’s recent report on LGBT+ people. We are fully committed to supporting the rights of all LGBT+ people and are clear that all forms of hate crime are completely unacceptable.

Unlike many of the other countries criticised in this report, the UK has robust legal protections in place to protect LGBT+ people and enable them to get on with life including Hate Crime legislation, the Equality Act 2010 and equal marriage, but we know there is more to do.

The Home Office will shortly be publishing a new Hate Crime Strategy to set out the Government’s plan for tackling these abhorrent crimes and will respond to recommendations set out by the Law Commission in due course.