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Written Question
Hate Crime: Religion
Wednesday 26th February 2025

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to establish a taskforce aimed at tackling discrimination against Christians and other religious groups in the UK, similar to the taskforce created for that purpose by the government of the USA.

Answered by Lord Khan of Burnley

All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, including that directed at Christians, and the government continues to work closely with community partners to tackle it. Churches and Christian charities occupy a valuable position in society through their access to active citizens, their role within local communities and their good relationships with other faith groups. Government and police routinely assess potential threats to ensure that protective measures are in place to protect Christian communities and their places of worship. The government has been exploring a more integrated and cohesive approach to bridging divisions and challenging hatred. We remain committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion and will not tolerate discrimination against Christians in any form.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 17 May 2021
Queen’s Speech

"My Lords, I add my congratulations to the noble Lords, Lord Coaker and Lord Morse, on their excellent maiden speeches. I draw attention to my entry in the register, in particular my presidency of BALPA, the pilots’ union. I am addressing what is fundamentally a transport issue to the Minister. …..."
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 03 Nov 2020
Covid-19: Places of Worship

"My Lords, I draw the Minister’s attention to the statement from Cardinal Vincent Nichols on behalf of the Catholic hierarchy. He said that,

“we have not yet seen any evidence whatsoever that would make the banning of communal worship, with all its human costs, a productive part of combating the …..."
Lord Balfe - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 14 Jul 2020
Business and Planning Bill

"My Lords, I want to mention one particular amendment—Amendment 61, in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Hain—and then make some general comments. The planning pipeline problem has been with us for as long as I have been in politics. When I saw this amendment, I reflected that as …..."
Lord Balfe - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 14 Jul 2020
Business and Planning Bill

"I have a very short intervention to make. I looked at this set of amendments in conjunction with the previous set. This is a sensible extension of the time limits, in my view, and I hope that those who will benefit from it—the developers—will have realised that this is adequate …..."
Lord Balfe - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 13 Jul 2020
Business and Planning Bill

"I do not agree with my noble friend Lady Noakes: we are not trying to make it more difficult; as I see it, we are trying to get the balance right. I referred in my initial speech to the changes in the regulations—what I think of as the Blair/Jowell reforms—which …..."
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 13 Jul 2020
Business and Planning Bill

"In my contribution, and in the previous one, I asked first about the position of unused shops and whether there is a need for the applicant to have and submit the permission of the owner or lessee of the shop, if they propose to put tables and chairs outside it. …..."
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 13 Jul 2020
Business and Planning Bill

"My Lords, I welcomed the Minister’s statement at the beginning. I am glad that she made it then; it has saved a lot of argument, has it not? I have two major points. The first follows up on the point made by the noble Baroness, Lady Stowell. In Cambridge, where …..."
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 13 Jul 2020
Business and Planning Bill

"..."
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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 13 Jul 2020
Business and Planning Bill

"My Lords, I also intend to speak to Amendments 3 and 11 in my name.

This Bill demonstrates exactly why we need to get back to work as a House of Lords. Some 70 Members will speak in different parts of this Committee stage and there is a large number …..."
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