Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many calls the ACAS helpline received in each year between 2016 and 2024; of those, how many and what percentage of calls were about religion and belief; and how many and what percentage of calls were received from those who identified as Muslim.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
Between the years 2016 and 2024, the Acas helpline received the following numbers of calls. Acas’ data on calls is not broken down into different religions and beliefs.
Year | Number of calls | Calls related to religion and beliefs | Percentage of helpline calls on religion and beliefs. |
2016 | 960,400 | 1,262 | 0.13% |
2017 | 776,400 | 977 | 0.13% |
2018 | 710,000 | 843 | 0.12% |
2019 | 784,000 | 1,084 | 0.14% |
2020 | 750,100 | 805 | 0.11% |
2021 | 662,200 | 1,002 | 0.15% |
2022 | 640,200 | 1,009 | 0.16% |
2023 | 621,500 | 1,121 | 0.18% |
2024 | 569,300 | 1,179 | 0.21% |
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 9 December 2024 (HL2824), what assessment they have made of the prevalence of transnational marriage abandonment cases for 2024 and 2025.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Since 31 January 2024 those who find themselves a victim of domestic abuse in the form of transnational marriage abandonment (TMA) can apply for entry clearance (Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE)) under Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse to the Immigration Rules.
Data on the number of applications under the TMA route is published each quarter on gov.uk under the category ‘Settlement VDA LTE’: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/682b151450dbd3ce8372abb4/visas-status-and-immigration-data-q1-2025.ods.
The data shows there were 9 cases in 2024 Q1, 17 in Q2, 34 in Q3, 23 in Q4. For 2025 the data shows there were 12 cases in Q1.
Prior to this, cases of TMA were not distinguishable in published statistics. We will continue to monitor the prevalence of TMA cases over time.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total funding they allocated to Faith Matters for the Tell MAMA project for the 2025–26 financial year; what was the duration in months for which the funding was granted; and what specific activities will be supported by this funding.
Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley
The government is committed to providing a comprehensive service to monitor anti-Muslim hatred and providing support for victims, and on 2 April announced the Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund. We are seeking grant applications to support organisations to provide a comprehensive service to monitor anti-Muslim hatred and support victims. We welcome applications from Tell MAMA as well as alternative providers.
The government has also made available £500,000 for funding Tell MAMA in 2025/26, to support their work for Q1 and Q2 of 2025/26. This is subject to their signing of a Grant Funding Agreement for 2025/26 which will detail the specific activities the funding will support.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 2 December 2024 (HL2826), what steps they will take to increase the number of cases related to religion and belief handled by the Equality Advisory and Support Service.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS) is a government-commissioned helpline that provides free advice and support to individuals in England, Scotland, and Wales on issues relating to equality and human rights.
The service provides advice in relation to all the protected characteristics covered in the Equality Act 2010. EASS has a dedicated Stakeholder Engagement Manager who undertakes engagement with organisations that represent the interests of those with protected characteristics that have contacted the service and with organisations that wish to establish links with the service in the future.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 2 December 2024 (HL2825), which organisation was awarded the contract to operate the Equality Advisory and Support Service in the most recent competitive tendering process; how much funding they have allocated to this organisation each year since 2022; and what the timeline is for the review and reopening of the next competitive tendering process.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS) is a government-commissioned helpline that provides free advice and support to individuals in England, Scotland, and Wales on issues relating to equality and human rights. The last competitive tendering process was run in 2022, the resulting contract is still in place.
G4S was awarded the EASS contract in the last competitive tender process. The spend amount of the contract to date is £1,054,680 excl. VAT in the 2022/23 contract year, £1,104,180 excl. VAT in the 2023/24 contract year and £769,868 excl. VAT in the 2024/25 contract year. The reopening of the competitive tendering process will be ahead of the next contract juncture in June 2026.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 2 December 2024 (HL2826), whether they collect data on the number of Muslims who contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service; and if not, what plans they have to do so.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Equality Advisory & Support Service (EASS) is a government-commissioned helpline that provides free advice and support to individuals in England, Scotland, and Wales on issues relating to equality and human rights.The EASS collects statistics on the protected characteristics related to the issue raised with the service, this includes if the issue relates to religion or belief. The statistics for the percentage of the cases related to religion and belief that were received from those who identified as Muslim is not collected. Individual characteristics are recorded if disclosed during the conversation.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether organisations led-by and for Muslim women which address violence against women and girls in their communities receive adequate funding.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not currently hold any grants with specific faith-centric specialist services regarding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The Home Office has supported a range of specialist 'by and for' services, including services for Black and minoritised women, and is assured that Muslim women are appropriately represented in the demographics of victims supported by those organisations.
On 28 November, the Government announced a funding increase of £30 million, meaning a total investment of £160m in the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant in 2025-26. This will enable local authorities to invest in essential support in frontline safe accommodation services. Furthermore, the Home Office has been able to continue the majority of grants held by Interpersonal Abuse Unit for the next financial year 2025-26. This includes support for migrant victims, delivery of the national VAWG Helplines, and specialist support for children affected by domestic abuse.
This Government is aware of the gaps in 'by and for' provision across England and Wales. The Duty to Collaborate provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which, once implemented, will ensure a more strategic approach to local commissioning in England for victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and serious violence. It will require Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities, and Integrated Care Boards to collaborate when commissioning and, as part of this, consult on, produce, and implement a joint local strategy and needs assessment which demonstrates how they are fulfilling this duty.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what organisations are planned to receive funding from the Home Office to tackle violence against women and girls in the 2025–26 financial year; and of these organisations, how many are faith-centric organisations, and how many are led-by and run for Muslim women.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not currently hold any grants with specific faith-centric specialist services regarding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The Home Office has supported a range of specialist 'by and for' services, including services for Black and minoritised women, and is assured that Muslim women are appropriately represented in the demographics of victims supported by those organisations.
On 28 November, the Government announced a funding increase of £30 million, meaning a total investment of £160m in the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant in 2025-26. This will enable local authorities to invest in essential support in frontline safe accommodation services. Furthermore, the Home Office has been able to continue the majority of grants held by Interpersonal Abuse Unit for the next financial year 2025-26. This includes support for migrant victims, delivery of the national VAWG Helplines, and specialist support for children affected by domestic abuse.
This Government is aware of the gaps in 'by and for' provision across England and Wales. The Duty to Collaborate provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which, once implemented, will ensure a more strategic approach to local commissioning in England for victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and serious violence. It will require Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities, and Integrated Care Boards to collaborate when commissioning and, as part of this, consult on, produce, and implement a joint local strategy and needs assessment which demonstrates how they are fulfilling this duty.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what organisations are being funded by the Home Office to tackle violence against women and girls in this financial year; and of these organisations, how many are faith-centric organisations, and how many are led-by and run for Muslim women.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not currently hold any grants with specific faith-centric specialist services regarding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The Home Office has supported a range of specialist 'by and for' services, including services for Black and minoritised women, and is assured that Muslim women are appropriately represented in the demographics of victims supported by those organisations.
On 28 November, the Government announced a funding increase of £30 million, meaning a total investment of £160m in the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant in 2025-26. This will enable local authorities to invest in essential support in frontline safe accommodation services. Furthermore, the Home Office has been able to continue the majority of grants held by Interpersonal Abuse Unit for the next financial year 2025-26. This includes support for migrant victims, delivery of the national VAWG Helplines, and specialist support for children affected by domestic abuse.
This Government is aware of the gaps in 'by and for' provision across England and Wales. The Duty to Collaborate provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which, once implemented, will ensure a more strategic approach to local commissioning in England for victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and serious violence. It will require Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities, and Integrated Care Boards to collaborate when commissioning and, as part of this, consult on, produce, and implement a joint local strategy and needs assessment which demonstrates how they are fulfilling this duty.
Asked by: Baroness Gohir (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether faith-centric women's organisations which address violence against women and girls in their communities receive adequate funding.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not currently hold any grants with specific faith-centric specialist services regarding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The Home Office has supported a range of specialist 'by and for' services, including services for Black and minoritised women, and is assured that Muslim women are appropriately represented in the demographics of victims supported by those organisations.
On 28 November, the Government announced a funding increase of £30 million, meaning a total investment of £160m in the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant in 2025-26. This will enable local authorities to invest in essential support in frontline safe accommodation services. Furthermore, the Home Office has been able to continue the majority of grants held by Interpersonal Abuse Unit for the next financial year 2025-26. This includes support for migrant victims, delivery of the national VAWG Helplines, and specialist support for children affected by domestic abuse.
This Government is aware of the gaps in 'by and for' provision across England and Wales. The Duty to Collaborate provisions of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 which, once implemented, will ensure a more strategic approach to local commissioning in England for victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and serious violence. It will require Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities, and Integrated Care Boards to collaborate when commissioning and, as part of this, consult on, produce, and implement a joint local strategy and needs assessment which demonstrates how they are fulfilling this duty.