Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the February 2026 announcement of £73.4 million in protective security funding for faith communities, (a) what was the evidential basis for the levels of funding allocated to different protective security schemes in the period referenced and (b) what steps she is taking to ensure support given to Hindu Mandirs in (i) Scotland and (ii) the wider UK reflects the actual costs of security provision and personnel.

Funding allocations are determined by an assessment of the threats and risks faced by communities. The recent allocation of £40 million for Muslim sites and £28.4 million for Jewish sites reflects the clear and sustained threat and vulnerability picture established through police reporting and assessments.

This includes the latest data of police recorded hate crime which shows that religious hate crime continues to increase, with the majority (73%) of religious hate crime targeted at Jewish and Muslim communities in the most recent reporting year.

Places of worship from all other faiths can apply to the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme. The recently announced additional funding for 2026/27 for this scheme – which will bring total funding for the scheme to £5 million in 206/27 – represents record levels of support to Christian, Hindu, Sikh and other faith communities in England and Wales. Where measures are provided through the scheme, sites are assessed to identify proportionate security improvements, and the Home Office keeps unit cost assumptions and delivery arrangements under review to ensure they adequately reflect current market conditions.

We continue to support the police and operational partners in assessing threats and strengthening protections for faith communities against hate crime. As policing and justice matters are devolved, the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme is not available in Scotland. However, we continue to engage with partners across the UK to support faith communities to access appropriate advice and support.