Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce measures to combat Islamophobia in the United Kingdom.

This Government has done more than any other to tackle anti-Muslim hatred:

• We have set up the first ever cross-government working group on anti-Muslim hatred which was established to consider and take forward proposals to tackle anti-Muslim hatred. The Group engages with Muslim communities and advises Government on how best to take forward key priorities;
• Provided start-up funding to the Tell MAMA initiative to record incidents and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred;
• Established a UK Srebrenica Memorial Day which recognises the fatal consequences of hatred and division;
• Run social media workshops to build the capacity of community organisations to use social media effectively;
• Held 8 integration roadshows with communities to find out what more Government can do to integrate communities and tackle anti-Muslim hatred. Further roadshows are planned throughout 2015;
• Following the attacks in Paris, My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and I wrote on 16 January to mosques across England reassuring them of Government help if they experience anti-Muslim hatred. The Department has also assured faith and community leaders of its support to their commendable efforts to foster mutual understanding and shared respect;
• Proactive engagement with the police to combat anti-Muslim hatred;
• Initiated roundtable discussions with representatives of Muslim communities, including Imams and Muslim youth leaders;
• Regular ministerial engagement and attendance at Muslim community events.