Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they apply in selecting members of the Muslim community to consult; and whether the Home Office has employed or consulted advisers who believe in the creation of an Islamic state in the United Kingdom by non-violent means.

As stated in the Prevent Strategy, and reinforced in the report of the Prime Minister’s Extremism Task Force in December 2013, the Government will not engage with people, from any background, who engage in vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. By contrast, the Government does sets great value to the wide range of people from many different British Muslim groups and mosques with whom we do work. Last year, for example, Prevent local coordinators in our 30 Prevent priority areas worked with over 250 mosques, 50 faith groups and 70 community groups as part of their work to help people recognise and challenge extremist propaganda and support those who may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.