Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on community and inter-faith relations of attacks on churches in the UK including Christ Church on Infirmary Road in Londonderry on 12 September 2017, St John's Church in Keynsham in September 2017, Holy Trinity Church in Back Hamlet in August 2017, St James’ Church in Dursley in August 2017, St Mary and St Nicolas Church in August 2017, Airdrie Clarkston Parish Church in August 2017, All Saints Parish Church on Church Street, Gainsborough on 26 July 2017, St Winifred RC Church, Bootle in July 2017, Church of the Venerable Bede in July 2017, St Thomas’s Church in Stopsley in July 2017, St Botolph’s Church in Skidbrooke in July 2017, Murston Old Church in July 2017, St Editha's Church, in Tamworth in June 2017, Castlemilk Evangelical Church of Christ in April 2017, Wylde Green United Reformed Church in Sutton Coldfield in March 2017, St Faith’s Church in Lincoln in March 2017, Blackford Parish Church in February 2017, St. Mary’s Church, Pateley Bridge in January 2017; and if he will make a statement.

We condemn in the strongest terms attacks on all faith institutions as we are well aware of the impact this can have on inter-faith relations. The Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme is one of the key commitments contained within 'Action Against Hate' - the UK Government's plan for tackling hate crime. The Home Office has committed £2.4 million to the scheme over three years. The Government provides funding for security measures to places of worship that have been subject to, or vulnerable to a hate crime attack. The fund has received a number of applications from churches. Applications for 2018/19 will be opening in due course.