Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of statutory changes to clarify the duty of community service providers to engage with local resilience frameworks.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
We understand the vital role of all parts of society in resilience, and work closely with a wide range of groups on all aspects of resilience. This includes work with a variety of Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) organisations, such as those who provide community services that support local resilience activities. There are currently no duties placed on community service providers to engage with local resilience structures or frameworks.
Following a recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Government launched a public consultation to gather views on whether placing a statutory duty on Category 1 responders to establish and maintain relationships with the VCFS is the best means to achieve stronger engagement, and what burdens any new statutory duty might have on both emergency responders and VCFS organisations. Findings from this consultation will form part of the Post Implementation Review of the Civil Contingencies Act.
Asked by: Navendu Mishra (Labour - Stockport)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in levels of (a) anti-Hindu sentiment and (b) Hinduphobia.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We monitor trends in religious and racial hatred closely, working across Government, with the police and community partners to understand emerging issues and impacts. In the year ending March 2026, police recorded 210 religious hate crimes targeting Hindus, representing 2% of all religious hate crimes and a 15% increase from the previous year.
Whilst the number of hate crimes targeting Hindus remains relatively low compared with other forms of religious hatred, every incident represents an unacceptable attack on an individual’s right to live and practise their faith freely. One hate crime is one too many and this Government is committed to tackling all forms of racial and religious hatred wherever it occurs, including that directed at Hindus.
The Government is delivering targeted interventions to tackle hatred at its root across all corners of society. This includes investing in places of worship and protective security funding, strengthening hate crime reporting and enforcement, ensuring online hate crime offences are swiftly investigated and that hate crimes are prosecuted with the full force of the law.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Manchester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to issue guidance encouraging local domestic abuse partnerships to engage formally with faith-based organisations and faith leaders as part of their local strategies for tackling violence against women and girls.
Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse as part of its ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Achieving this will require a whole of society approach, including from faith organisations, which play a vital role in supporting people and places to thrive.
Since 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England have had a statutory duty to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children can access support in relevant safe accommodation when needed, backed by £499 million government funding over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29. Statutory guidance makes clear that in delivering the duty, local authorities should consider the needs of all victims; understand barriers to accessing support within relevant safe accommodation, including those linked to religion or belief; and ensure appropriate specialist support is available for victims with relevant protected characteristics, including religion or belief.
Local authorities must appoint and consult a domestic abuse Local Partnership Board including a representative of local charities or voluntary organisations supporting domestic abuse victims, and are encouraged to appoint additional members where this reflects local circumstances and need.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Manchester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support local authorities to work with faith-based organisations as trusted community institutions for women at risk of domestic abuse.
Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse as part of its ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Achieving this will require a whole of society approach, including from faith organisations, which play a vital role in supporting people and places to thrive.
Since 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England have had a statutory duty to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children can access support in relevant safe accommodation when needed, backed by £499 million government funding over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29. Statutory guidance makes clear that in delivering the duty, local authorities should consider the needs of all victims; understand barriers to accessing support within relevant safe accommodation, including those linked to religion or belief; and ensure appropriate specialist support is available for victims with relevant protected characteristics, including religion or belief.
Local authorities must appoint and consult a domestic abuse Local Partnership Board including a representative of local charities or voluntary organisations supporting domestic abuse victims, and are encouraged to appoint additional members where this reflects local circumstances and need.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Manchester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to integrate faith-based organisations into local domestic abuse referral pathways.
Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This government is committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse as part of its ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. Achieving this will require a whole of society approach, including from faith organisations, which play a vital role in supporting people and places to thrive.
Since 2021, Tier 1 local authorities in England have had a statutory duty to ensure that victims of domestic abuse and their children can access support in relevant safe accommodation when needed, backed by £499 million government funding over the period 2026-27 to 2028-29. Statutory guidance makes clear that in delivering the duty, local authorities should consider the needs of all victims; understand barriers to accessing support within relevant safe accommodation, including those linked to religion or belief; and ensure appropriate specialist support is available for victims with relevant protected characteristics, including religion or belief.
Local authorities must appoint and consult a domestic abuse Local Partnership Board including a representative of local charities or voluntary organisations supporting domestic abuse victims, and are encouraged to appoint additional members where this reflects local circumstances and need.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent steps the Church of England has taken to support community cohesion in its parishes.
Answered by Marsha De Cordova
The Church of England has a long and proud tradition of working across faiths and communities to promote understanding, strengthen relationships and support community cohesion. Most dioceses have dedicated interfaith advisers who work with clergy and congregations to encourage engagement with people of different faiths and backgrounds, supported by the Church’s national Presence and Engagement programme.
Through its parish network, the Church maintains a presence in communities across the country, helping to build the trust and long-term relationships that are essential to bringing people together. Churches regularly work alongside other faith organisations, local authorities, schools, community groups and the police to foster mutual understanding, tackle local challenges and support peaceful, resilient communities.
The Church also supports the work of organisations such as the Church Urban Fund and Near Neighbours, which play a vital role in promoting interfaith understanding, encouraging social action and strengthening community ties. Together, these partnerships help ensure that churches continue to contribute positively to community cohesion, social justice and good relations across our diverse society.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Sheffield (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 7 July (HL1510), what steps they are taking to collaborate with faith-based international partners to help civilians who have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict and disaster.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government works with faith-based partners as well as civil society, and local, national, and international organisations, to support people displaced by conflict and disasters. A range of faith-based organisations have participated in Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded humanitarian and development programmes. These programmes include support for displaced people and assistance to affected communities.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Cabinet Office's news story entitled Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet, published on July 2026, whether responsibility for faith will be with (a) Office for Equality and Opportunity or (b) MHCLG.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) leads the Government’s work to support and engage faith and belief groups, and coordinates the Government’s work to tackle religious hatred. Whilst the Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith sits within MHCLG, other government departments will also undertake faith and belief engagement as part of their work.
As the department responsible for communities policy, MHCLG celebrates the central role of faith and belief in our national life, and its contribution to building a more cohesive society where all communities feel safe. MHCLG seeks to ensure that the voices of people of faith and belief are warmly welcomed and richly valued as we tackle the challenges we face together.
The Office for Equality and Opportunity is responsible for the Equality Act 2010, including its protections against discrimination and harassment on the basis of religion or belief.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered introducing a statutory Code of Practice on Sikh articles of faith to improve understanding among public authorities.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
British Sikhs are an integral part of this country, and this Government refuses to allow intolerance to impact the lives of any people of faith. We are committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion – including the wearing of the Sikh articles of faith – and we do not tolerate anti-Sikh hatred or discrimination in any form.
Earlier this year, we committed in Protecting What Matters to boost faith and belief literacy. This will include gauging our current levels of faith and belief literacy in government identifying ways to upskill, and developing an approach that improves the quality and inclusivity of policy making. We will also consider how to strengthen faith and belief literacy across society as a whole.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government for what reason religion and belief is not included in the remit of the Office for Equality and Opportunity.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Office for Equality and Opportunity is responsible for the Equality Act 2010, including its protections against discrimination and harassment on the basis of religion or belief.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) leads the Government’s work to support and engage faith and belief groups and coordinates the Government’s work to tackle religious hatred.
This government celebrates the central role of faith and belief in our national life, and its contribution to building a more cohesive society where all communities feel safe. We seek to ensure that the voices of people of faith and belief are warmly welcomed and richly valued as we tackle the challenges we face together.