Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of students in the UK who are on a student visa from Gaza and what support is being provided to them.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), now part of JISC, is responsible for collecting and publishing data about UK higher education (HE). The latest statistics refer to the 2021/22 academic year.
Table 28 of HESA’s ‘Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2021/22’ reports the number of non-UK domiciled HE students by country of domicile. This data is accessible at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/students/table-28.
In the 2021/22 academic year, there were 245 student enrolments at UK HE providers who were domiciled in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (formerly the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip) prior to their studies.
Universities offer a range of dedicated support to their international students before they arrive in the UK, on arrival and during their studies. This includes both pastoral care and financial support. If a student is experiencing difficulties, they should contact the university to discuss their circumstances.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much in public funds has been awarded to the community interest company Faith Matters for the Tell Mama project (1) up to March 2023, and (2) from April 2023 to March 2024; and what will be the award from April 2024 to March 2025.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.
Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.
Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.
Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.
Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:
Financial year | Funding amount |
2011/12 | £91,567 |
2012/13 | £223,517 |
2013/14 | £80,457 |
2014/15 | £0 |
2015/16 | £181,982 |
2016/17 | £503,620 |
2017/18 | £829,226 |
2018/19 | £892,151 |
2019/20 | £841,000 |
2020/21 | £841,000 |
2021/22 | £841,000 |
2022/23 | £841,000 |
2023/24 | £1,001,230 |
Total | £6,166,520 |
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the governance of the community interest company Faith Matters, which has been awarded more than £6 million in public funds for the Tell Mama project to monitor Islamophobia.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.
Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.
Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.
Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.
Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:
Financial year | Funding amount |
2011/12 | £91,567 |
2012/13 | £223,517 |
2013/14 | £80,457 |
2014/15 | £0 |
2015/16 | £181,982 |
2016/17 | £503,620 |
2017/18 | £829,226 |
2018/19 | £892,151 |
2019/20 | £841,000 |
2020/21 | £841,000 |
2021/22 | £841,000 |
2022/23 | £841,000 |
2023/24 | £1,001,230 |
Total | £6,166,520 |
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the intended purpose of the most recent more than £1 million grant made to the community interest company Faith Matters for the Tell Mama project; and what is the breakdown of the expected expenditure according to the grant conditions that have been stipulated.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.
Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.
Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.
Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.
Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:
Financial year | Funding amount |
2011/12 | £91,567 |
2012/13 | £223,517 |
2013/14 | £80,457 |
2014/15 | £0 |
2015/16 | £181,982 |
2016/17 | £503,620 |
2017/18 | £829,226 |
2018/19 | £892,151 |
2019/20 | £841,000 |
2020/21 | £841,000 |
2021/22 | £841,000 |
2022/23 | £841,000 |
2023/24 | £1,001,230 |
Total | £6,166,520 |
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the recently awarded more than £1 million grant to the community interest company Faith Matters is for the Tell Mama project which monitors Islamophobia; what proportion is for other initiatives; and what is the purpose of those other initiatives.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.
Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.
Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.
Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.
Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:
Financial year | Funding amount |
2011/12 | £91,567 |
2012/13 | £223,517 |
2013/14 | £80,457 |
2014/15 | £0 |
2015/16 | £181,982 |
2016/17 | £503,620 |
2017/18 | £829,226 |
2018/19 | £892,151 |
2019/20 | £841,000 |
2020/21 | £841,000 |
2021/22 | £841,000 |
2022/23 | £841,000 |
2023/24 | £1,001,230 |
Total | £6,166,520 |
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much of the most recent more than £1 million grant awarded to the community interest company Faith Matters for the Tell Mama project has been paid; and when, if any, are the remaining payments due to be made.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.
Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.
Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.
Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.
Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:
Financial year | Funding amount |
2011/12 | £91,567 |
2012/13 | £223,517 |
2013/14 | £80,457 |
2014/15 | £0 |
2015/16 | £181,982 |
2016/17 | £503,620 |
2017/18 | £829,226 |
2018/19 | £892,151 |
2019/20 | £841,000 |
2020/21 | £841,000 |
2021/22 | £841,000 |
2022/23 | £841,000 |
2023/24 | £1,001,230 |
Total | £6,166,520 |
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government, what proportion, if any, of the more than £6 million grants awarded to the community interest company Faith Matters for the Tell Mama project is from Prevent funds.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has funded Tell MAMA directly with over £6 million since 2012 (funding details are provided below) to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred, through a workplan agreed via a formal Grant Funding Agreement. The funding was increased to just over £1m for the 2023/24 financial year.
Tell MAMA is a project funded with the express remit of supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred and monitoring incidents. The department funds Tell MAMA as a project of Faith Matters directly.
Tell MAMA are subject to internal grant funding processes and due diligence checks. This is the case for all funded partners, before any funding agreement can be processed. Tell MAMA’s most significant expenses are staff related costs.
Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. Tell MAMA engages regularly with DLUHC officials to monitor progress and provide feedback on issues affecting Muslim communities and our response to anti-Muslim hatred.
Please see a formal breakdown of funding for Tell MAMA over the last 10 years:
Financial year | Funding amount |
2011/12 | £91,567 |
2012/13 | £223,517 |
2013/14 | £80,457 |
2014/15 | £0 |
2015/16 | £181,982 |
2016/17 | £503,620 |
2017/18 | £829,226 |
2018/19 | £892,151 |
2019/20 | £841,000 |
2020/21 | £841,000 |
2021/22 | £841,000 |
2022/23 | £841,000 |
2023/24 | £1,001,230 |
Total | £6,166,520 |
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the numbers of asylum seekers who have (1) self-harmed, (2) attempted suicide, or (3) died by suicide, who are currently either living or lived in initial and dispersed asylum accommodation provided by the Home Office via contracts.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office operates a Safeguarding Hub to support vulnerable individuals. Both the Home Office and its accommodation providers have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies of police, NHS, and social services to promote appropriate safeguarding interventions.
As well as making safeguarding referrals to the appropriate statutory agencies other actions include attendance at child/adult protection meetings with police and social workers and liaising with both external and internal partners to share information. The statutory agencies retain responsibility for all decisions on intervention activity.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to reduce the risk of self-harm amongst asylum seekers living in initial and dispersed asylum accommodation provided by the Home Office via contracts.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The Home Office operates a Safeguarding Hub to support vulnerable individuals. Both the Home Office and its accommodation providers have robust processes in place to ensure that where someone is at risk, they are referred to the appropriate statutory agencies of police, NHS, and social services to promote appropriate safeguarding interventions.
As well as making safeguarding referrals to the appropriate statutory agencies other actions include attendance at child/adult protection meetings with police and social workers and liaising with both external and internal partners to share information. The statutory agencies retain responsibility for all decisions on intervention activity.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the food provided to asylum seekers living in initial and dispersed asylum accommodation provided by the Home Office via contracts (1) is adequate, (2) meets minimum quality standards, (3) meets basic nutritional needs, and (4) is culturally appropriate.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
Asylum seekers in initial accommodation are provided with three meals a day with a choice of at least one hot, one cold selection and a vegetarian option. Babies and small children are also provided with appropriate foodstuffs and can be fed whenever necessary. Options are provided for any asylum seeker with special dietary, cultural or religions requirements where specified. Food service meets appropriate nutritional standards and accommodation providers ensure that each varied menu is validated by a suitably qualified nutritionist or health professional as being appropriate.
Those in dispersal accommodation are provided with £47.39 per week, to meet essential living needs including food provision.
There are additional payments for pregnant women, children and babies as follows:
Extra payments | Pregnant mother | Baby under 1 | Child aged 1-3 |
Pregnancy payment (per week) | £3 | £5 | £3 |
|
|
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| S95 Applicants | S4 applicants |
|
Maternity Payment (per month) | £300 | £250 |
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