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Written Question
Higher Education: Antisemitism
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to tackle anti-Semitism in higher education institutions in the South East.

Answered by Robert Halfon - Minister of State (Education)

Antisemitism, intimidation, and threats of violence must never be tolerated on university campuses. The Community Security Trust 2023 annual report highlights the unprecedented increase in antisemitic incidents in higher education (HE). This unacceptable rise is deeply concerning. All antisemitism is abhorrent, and universities should have robust systems to deal with incidents of support for unlawful antisemitic abuse and harassment. The department will not tolerate unlawful harassment or the glorification of terrorism.

Ever since the October 7 attacks, the department has actively intervened to ensure that universities, including those located in the South East, act swiftly and appropriately to deal with incidents of antisemitism. I have reached out to many Vice Chancellors personally when a concern has been raised about antisemitism on their campus.

Furthermore, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and I wrote to all universities on 11 October 2023, urging them to respond swiftly to hate-related incidents and to actively reassure Jewish students that they can study without fear of harassment or intimidation. I wrote again to Vice Chancellors on 16 November 2023, emphasising that they must use disciplinary measures wherever appropriate, highlighting the importance of police engagement, and reiterating that student visas could be suspended where a foreign national is found to have committed or incited acts of racial hatred. This was one of the key actions set out in the five point plan for tackling antisemitism in HE, which was published on 5 November 2023. The plan also involves:

  • Calling for visas to be withdrawn from international students who incite racial hatred. Visas are a privilege, not a right, and the government won’t hesitate to remove them from people who abuse them.
  • Logging specific cases and sharing them with the Office for Students for their consideration.
  • Continuing to make it clear in all discussions that acts that may be criminal should be referred to the police.
  • Establishing a Tackling Antisemitism Quality Seal, which will be an award available to universities who can demonstrate the highest standards in tackling antisemitism.

On 22 November, the government announced in the Autumn Statement an additional £7 million over three years to tackle antisemitism in education. The Quality Seal will be the cornerstone of this package for universities, providing a framework of measures that will make clear what good practice is in tackling antisemitism in HE, and making sure that our universities are a safe and welcoming space for Jewish students and staff, as for all students and staff.

The department will not hesitate to take further action across education to stamp out antisemitism and harassment of Jewish pupils, students and staff.


Written Question
Universities: Antisemitism
Friday 15th March 2024

Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support Jewish university students following recent increases in incidents of antisemitism on campuses.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Antisemitism, intimidation, and threats of violence must never be tolerated on university campuses. The Community Security Trust 2023 annual report highlights the unprecedented increase in antisemitic incidents in higher education (HE) and this unacceptable rise is deeply concerning. All antisemitism is abhorrent and universities should have robust systems to deal with incidents of support for unlawful antisemitic abuse and harassment. We will not tolerate unlawful harassment or the glorification of terrorism.

Since the 7 October attacks, we have actively intervened to ensure that universities act swiftly and appropriately to deal with incidents of antisemitism.

The Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Skills wrote to all universities on 11 October 2023, urging them to respond swiftly to hate-related incidents, and actively reassure Jewish students that they can study without fear of harassment or intimidation. The Minister wrote again to Vice Chancellors on 16 November 2023, emphasising that they must use disciplinary measures wherever appropriate, highlighting the importance of police engagement, and reiterating that student visas could be suspended where a foreign national is found to have committed or incited acts of racial hatred. This was one of the key actions set out in the five point plan for tackling antisemitism in HE, which was published on 5 November 2023. The plan also involves:

  • Calling for visas to be withdrawn from international students who incite racial hatred. Visas are a privilege, not a right, and we will not hesitate to remove them from people who abuse them.
  • Logging specific cases and sharing them with the Office for Students for their consideration.
  • Continuing to make it clear in all discussions that acts that may be criminal should be referred to the police.
  • Establishing a Tackling Antisemitism Quality Seal which will be an award available to universities who can demonstrate the highest standards in tackling antisemitism.

On 22 November 2023, the department announced in the Autumn Statement an additional £7 million over three years to tackle antisemitism in education. The Quality Seal will be the cornerstone of this package for universities, providing a framework of measures that will make clear what good practice is in tackling antisemitism in HE, and making sure that our universities are a safe and welcoming space for Jewish students and staff.

The department will not hesitate to take further action across education to stamp out antisemitism and harassment of Jewish pupils, students and staff.


Written Question
Antisemitism
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to tackle anti-Semitism.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

Anti-Semitism is abhorrent and has no place in our society. No one should ever be a victim of hatred because of their religion or belief and the Government continues to work with police and community partners to monitor and combat it.

That is why on 28 February 2024, the Prime Minister announced that the Community Security Trust will receive further funding of £54 million for 2025-2028, as part of the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant. This is in addition to the commitment made as part of the Autumn Statement for £18 million in 2024/25.


Written Question
Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the document entitled Draft terms of reference for the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, what key priorities the Government has identified in collaboration with the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group; what support other Departments have provided to ensure that recommendations are taken fully to implementation stage; and whether that group has identified any difficulty in delivery of the recommendations since 2019.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

The Government is clear that all forms of racial and religious discrimination are unacceptable, and they have no place in our communities. We continue to take a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Groups.

As my Hon Friend the Member for Kensington outlined in the House, we plan to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and we will update the House shortly.


Written Question
Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the document entitled Draft terms of reference for the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, what trends in anti-Muslim sentiment and hatred that group has (a) reviewed and (b) identified since 2019; and what appropriate actions it has suggested for (i) the Government and (ii) communities as a result of that review.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

The Government is clear that all forms of racial and religious discrimination are unacceptable, and they have no place in our communities. We continue to take a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Groups.

As my Hon Friend the Member for Kensington outlined in the House, we plan to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and we will update the House shortly.


Written Question
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what updates his Department has provided about relevant developments in its area of work to the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group since 2019.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

The Government is clear that all forms of racial and religious discrimination are unacceptable, and they have no place in our communities. We continue to take a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Groups.

As my Hon Friend the Member for Kensington outlined in the House, we plan to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and we will update the House shortly.


Written Question
Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group has taken to engage with Muslim communities since 2019.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

The Government is clear that all forms of racial and religious discrimination are unacceptable, and they have no place in our communities. We continue to take a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Groups.

As my Hon Friend the Member for Kensington outlined in the House, we plan to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and we will update the House shortly.


Written Question
Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recommendations the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group has made since 2019; and what progress he has made on implementing those recommendations.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

The Government is clear that all forms of racial and religious discrimination are unacceptable, and they have no place in our communities. We continue to take a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Groups.

As my Hon Friend the Member for Kensington outlined in the House, we plan to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and we will update the House shortly.


Written Question
Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many reports he has received from the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group since 2019.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

The Government is clear that all forms of racial and religious discrimination are unacceptable, and they have no place in our communities. We continue to take a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Groups.

As my Hon Friend the Member for Kensington outlined in the House, we plan to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and we will update the House shortly.


Written Question
Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
Thursday 7th March 2024

Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which Minister in his Department is responsible for the Anti Muslim Hatred Working Group.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

The Government is clear that all forms of racial and religious discrimination are unacceptable, and they have no place in our communities. We continue to take a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Groups.

As my Hon Friend the Member for Kensington outlined in the House, we plan to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and we will update the House shortly.