Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group about trends in Islamophobic hate crime.

This Government is committed to tackling the scourge of anti-Muslim hatred head-on through a coordinated cross-departmental effort. From ensuring the safety of worshippers in mosques to community engagement and supporting the victims, swift action has been taken to address anti-Muslim hatred and institute safeguards. For example, Tell MAMA has been provided with nearly £5m between 2016 and 2023 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred.

We are taking a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Working Groups; seeking the views and perspectives of British and international experts in this field to explore how religious hatred is experienced by British communities, and how it affects different faiths and individuals. This engagement will explore the breadth and depth of religious hatred and will consider the question of terminology and definitions for hatred across and within religious communities, including anti-Muslim hatred. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.