Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has received representations from Hindu community groups on the potential impact of an Islamophobia definition on freedom of expression.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
All forms of racial and religious discrimination are completely unacceptable, and this Government is committed to tackling this wherever it manifests. The Government established an independent working group to advise on a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, including on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. The Working Group have now submitted their advice to ministers for consideration.
The working group have engaged widely to ensure the advice given to the Government reflects the diverse perspectives and implications for different groups. To strengthen engagement, the Working Group launched a Call for Evidence on 20 July 2025. It was open to the public, and any individual or organisation, including Hindu community groups, were able to submit advice.
The Working Group operated according to its established terms of reference, which stated that any definition must be compatible with free speech and the right to criticise religions and religious practices. The Government will consider their advice in view of this.
Asked by: Gregory Stafford (Conservative - Farnham and Bordon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Government of India on the protection of freedom of religion or belief for religious minority communities, including their ability to participate in civil society.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 25 November 2025 in response to Question 90911.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to provide security protections for faith communities in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to making our streets and communities safer. The Government and police work closely together to review threats and strengthen protections for communities against terrorism and hate crime.
Up to £70.9 million is available to protect faith communities in 2025/26. This includes £18 million through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, £29.4 million through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme and for security at Muslim faith schools, and £3.5 million through the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme for places of worship and associated faith community centres of all other faiths. In addition, up to £10 million of emergency funding has been made available for both Jewish and Muslim communities each to further strengthen security measures at their places of worship and other community sites.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK Government is taking to encourage the Bangladeshi authorities to investigate and prosecute people responsible for mob violence against religious minorities.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK condemns the murder of Dipu Chandra Das, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends. We welcome the public commitments made by the Government of Bangladesh to the safety of minorities and the arrests already made in this case. More widely, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 November in response to Question 86282, and I can confirm that Baroness Chapman raised the issue of religious violence during her trip to Bangladesh in November.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of levels of freedom of religion or belief for Hindu communities in Bangladesh.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK condemns the murder of Dipu Chandra Das, and we extend our condolences to his family and friends. We welcome the public commitments made by the Government of Bangladesh to the safety of minorities and the arrests already made in this case. More widely, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 6 November in response to Question 86282, and I can confirm that Baroness Chapman raised the issue of religious violence during her trip to Bangladesh in November.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken with the Government of Nicaragua on restrictions on the importation and distribution of religious materials; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those restrictions on freedom of religion or belief.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 November in response to Question 85308.
Asked by: Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour - Aylesbury)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to provide security protections for faith communities.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Protecting the right of all faith communities to worship in peace and without fear is fundamental.
This year, the Government is investing £70.9 million to strengthen security at places of worship and other community sites.
This includes an additional £10 million each for Jewish and Muslim communities, taking protective security funding for these groups to record levels.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Reform UK - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure that police officers receive adequate training and guidance to enable them to maintain public order while respecting freedom of (a) expression, (b) religion and belief and (c) thought.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to protecting freedom of expression while ensuring that individuals can access abortion services without harassment or intimidation.
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO), as introduced by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allow local authorities to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area which apply to everyone. It is an offence for a person, without a reasonable excuse, to do anything they are prohibited from doing by a PSPO or to fail to comply with a requirement in the PSPO. PSPOs have previously been applied by local authorities within the vicinity of abortion facilities, as a decision independent of government.
On 31 October 2024, Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 came into force, introducing safe access zones of 150 metres around all abortion clinics in England and Wales. Within these zones, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly influence someone’s decision to use or provide abortion services, obstruct them, or cause harassment or distress. Ministers cannot comment on individual cases.
The legislation on safe access zones does not specify behaviours; it is for the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and courts, who are operationally independent, to determine whether an act meets the threshold. CPS guidance confirms that vigils or silent prayer could fall within scope depending on intent and circumstances (in annex A): https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offences-during-protests-demonstrations-or-campaigns.
The Home Office works with the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to ensure officers receive appropriate training and guidance on public order powers and human rights obligations. The College of Policing produces the Public Order Public Safety authorised professional practice (APP) which covers policing of safe access zones.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Reform UK - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has provided guidance to police forces on their approach towards (a) Isabel Vaughan-Spruce and (b) people engaging in silent thought, absent of any accompanying behaviour, near to abortion facilities.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to protecting freedom of expression while ensuring that individuals can access abortion services without harassment or intimidation.
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO), as introduced by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allow local authorities to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area which apply to everyone. It is an offence for a person, without a reasonable excuse, to do anything they are prohibited from doing by a PSPO or to fail to comply with a requirement in the PSPO. PSPOs have previously been applied by local authorities within the vicinity of abortion facilities, as a decision independent of government.
On 31 October 2024, Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 came into force, introducing safe access zones of 150 metres around all abortion clinics in England and Wales. Within these zones, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly influence someone’s decision to use or provide abortion services, obstruct them, or cause harassment or distress. Ministers cannot comment on individual cases.
The legislation on safe access zones does not specify behaviours; it is for the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and courts, who are operationally independent, to determine whether an act meets the threshold. CPS guidance confirms that vigils or silent prayer could fall within scope depending on intent and circumstances (in annex A): https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offences-during-protests-demonstrations-or-campaigns.
The Home Office works with the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to ensure officers receive appropriate training and guidance on public order powers and human rights obligations. The College of Policing produces the Public Order Public Safety authorised professional practice (APP) which covers policing of safe access zones.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Reform UK - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on silent prayer and silent thought.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government is committed to protecting freedom of expression while ensuring that individuals can access abortion services without harassment or intimidation.
Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO), as introduced by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, allow local authorities to deal with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that is detrimental to the local community’s quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area which apply to everyone. It is an offence for a person, without a reasonable excuse, to do anything they are prohibited from doing by a PSPO or to fail to comply with a requirement in the PSPO. PSPOs have previously been applied by local authorities within the vicinity of abortion facilities, as a decision independent of government.
On 31 October 2024, Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 came into force, introducing safe access zones of 150 metres around all abortion clinics in England and Wales. Within these zones, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly influence someone’s decision to use or provide abortion services, obstruct them, or cause harassment or distress. Ministers cannot comment on individual cases.
The legislation on safe access zones does not specify behaviours; it is for the police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and courts, who are operationally independent, to determine whether an act meets the threshold. CPS guidance confirms that vigils or silent prayer could fall within scope depending on intent and circumstances (in annex A): https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offences-during-protests-demonstrations-or-campaigns.
The Home Office works with the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to ensure officers receive appropriate training and guidance on public order powers and human rights obligations. The College of Policing produces the Public Order Public Safety authorised professional practice (APP) which covers policing of safe access zones.