Asked by: Paul Masterton (Conservative - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what joint working the Government is undertaking with the Scottish Government to promote racial tolerance and interfaith dialogue.
Answered by Marcus Jones
On 12 October my noble friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, met Angela Constance MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities in the Scottish Government) together with Carl Sargeant AM (Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children in the Welsh Government) in Edinburgh. The meeting was the second in a series aimed at exploring common interest and sharing best practice on community cohesion. Among the topics for discussion was a presentation by Interfaith Scotland.
Asked by: Paul Masterton (Conservative - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions the Government has had with the Scottish Government about the Government's proposals to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism.
Answered by Marcus Jones
We have had no discussions with the Scottish Government about that Government’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism. However, we welcome the recent decision of the Scottish Government to accept the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism, following discussions between them and the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Asked by: Paul Masterton (Conservative - East Renfrewshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to tackle anti-Semitism.
Answered by Marcus Jones
The UK is the first country in Europe to adopt formally the International Holocaust Memorial Alliance (IHRA) working definition of anti-Semitism. The definition, although legally non-binding, is an important tool enabling criminal justice agencies and other public bodies to understand how anti-Semitism manifests itself in the 21st century. In December 2016 we published a progress report on our efforts to tackle anti-Semitism which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/anti-semitism-update
The cross-government working group to tackle anti-Semitism ensures that we are alive to any new issues and concerns the Jewish community might have and that we can respond quickly.