0:00:00 > 0:00:00have been looking in recent times to enhance security arrangements that
0:00:00 > 0:00:05have been put in place and we will continue to do so.I felt the Prime
0:00:05 > 0:00:12Minister and all colleagues who have questioned her this afternoon.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Order, statement the Secretary of State for housing, communities and
0:00:14 > 0:00:22local of in. Secretary Sajid Javid. I would like to make a statement on
0:00:22 > 0:00:27the government's ambition proposals to build a stronger integrated
0:00:27 > 0:00:31community. Communities where people whatever their background can live,
0:00:31 > 0:00:35work, learn and social lives together based on their shared
0:00:35 > 0:00:39rights and opportunities. The integrated community strategy Green
0:00:39 > 0:00:42paper published today sets out a bold programme to deliver just this
0:00:42 > 0:00:49vision. Mr Speaker, Britain is a great place to live. We are one of
0:00:49 > 0:00:51the world's most successful multiethnic multi-face ascites and
0:00:51 > 0:00:57we should take pride in this diversity, but as we have seen just
0:00:57 > 0:01:01this week with the abhorrent punisher Muslim letters, there is a
0:01:01 > 0:01:07determination among some people to try to divide us. I would like to
0:01:07 > 0:01:11express my support for all of those who have received these hateful
0:01:11 > 0:01:15letters including the honourable members for Bethnal Green and Bow,
0:01:15 > 0:01:21Ealing Central and Acton and Bedford. While there is a lot for us
0:01:21 > 0:01:28to be proud of, there was also more to do to ensure we have a diverse
0:01:28 > 0:01:31society and that a diverse society does not need a divided one. Into
0:01:31 > 0:01:36many parts of our country the norm is mistrust, anxiety and prejudice.
0:01:36 > 0:01:41Things that prevent people from taking full advantage of the
0:01:41 > 0:01:45opportunities that living in Britain offers. We can no longer dark this
0:01:45 > 0:01:50issue if we are to ensure this is a country that works for everyone. To
0:01:50 > 0:01:56that end we have identified five factors that dry segregation in our
0:01:56 > 0:01:59communities. Firstly, too many schools are segregated, even where
0:01:59 > 0:02:05the local population is very diverse and unregulated settings outside
0:02:05 > 0:02:12school can also on occasion expose children to harmful views. Second,
0:02:12 > 0:02:17there is a residential segregation. In 2011 41% of ethnic minorities
0:02:17 > 0:02:22lived in wards where white British people were a minority, an increase
0:02:22 > 0:02:28from 25% just ten years ago. This reduces opportunities for people to
0:02:28 > 0:02:30mix and form a meaningful relationships with those from
0:02:30 > 0:02:35different backgrounds. Third, disproportionately high levels of
0:02:35 > 0:02:41unemployment and economic inactivity reduced social mobility and can
0:02:41 > 0:02:46increase isolation. 60% of women of Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity
0:02:46 > 0:02:50are inactive in the Labour market compared to a quarter of their white
0:02:50 > 0:02:58peers. Fourth, according to the last census, as many as 770,000 adults in
0:02:58 > 0:03:03England could not speak English well or at all. Without a good
0:03:03 > 0:03:07understanding of our language it is difficult for anyone to take full
0:03:07 > 0:03:11advantage of the opportunities that are available and I know this from
0:03:11 > 0:03:14my personal experience just how much difference it made for my own mother
0:03:14 > 0:03:20when she learned to speak English more than a decade after moving here
0:03:20 > 0:03:24from Pakistan. And fifth, there was a lack of meaningful mixing between
0:03:24 > 0:03:30people from different backgrounds. Evidence suggests that black, white
0:03:30 > 0:03:34and Asian Britons take up only half of the opportunities available to
0:03:34 > 0:03:40them to mix with people of a different ethnicity to themselves.
0:03:40 > 0:03:47All of which adds up to a conflict causing increased tensions within
0:03:47 > 0:03:51and between communities, with women and girls often at the greatest
0:03:51 > 0:03:55disadvantage. This Green paper sets out the framework of national
0:03:55 > 0:04:00priority actions to address these drivers are poor integration and a
0:04:00 > 0:04:05localised approach to delivering them. In doing so it sets out how we
0:04:05 > 0:04:11will facilitate recent migrant integration into their communities
0:04:11 > 0:04:19and how we will improve community's ability to increase integration. To
0:04:19 > 0:04:24ensure that government is leading by example, I am asking all Whitehall
0:04:24 > 0:04:28departments to review their policies and to identify areas where they
0:04:28 > 0:04:33could do more to support integration. For example, my right
0:04:33 > 0:04:37honourable friend the Home Secretary will review the life in the UK tests
0:04:37 > 0:04:42to see if it can be amended to strengthen its focus on the
0:04:42 > 0:04:47principles of the UK by which we are all expected to live. On education,
0:04:47 > 0:04:51the Green paper includes proposals to ensure that every child receives
0:04:51 > 0:04:55an education that prepares them for life in modern Britain. This means
0:04:55 > 0:05:00giving them the opportunity to mix and form lasting relationships with
0:05:00 > 0:05:04those from different backgrounds and making sure that they receive a
0:05:04 > 0:05:06rounded education which the amounts British rallies across the
0:05:06 > 0:05:10curriculum.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15To protect children and young people from moves which undermine our
0:05:15 > 0:05:18shared values, my right honourable friend the Education Secretary will
0:05:18 > 0:05:35also publish proposals to strengthen the... We will also stand up against
0:05:35 > 0:05:41harassment of school leaders who, having consulted, set reasonable
0:05:41 > 0:05:44policies to promote integration. Unemployment, the Green paper
0:05:44 > 0:05:47outlines how Jobcentre plus world trial new approaches to break down
0:05:47 > 0:05:51the barriers to employment and to support people from isolated
0:05:51 > 0:05:57communities into work. However, the truth is, that you must be able to
0:05:57 > 0:06:03speak English to not only find a job and to prosper, but also to play a
0:06:03 > 0:06:08full role in society. Which is why we are proposing to develop a new
0:06:08 > 0:06:11strategy for English language in England and launch a new
0:06:11 > 0:06:16community-based English-language programme. The Green paper also
0:06:16 > 0:06:21takes a robust approach to hate crime, a vile attack not just an
0:06:21 > 0:06:25individual spot on the tolerant and generous values that underpin
0:06:25 > 0:06:29British society. This paper proposes strengthening local partnerships so
0:06:29 > 0:06:33that they can identify and adopt the most effective approaches to
0:06:33 > 0:06:38tackling hate crime and to encourage more people to report it. But it's
0:06:38 > 0:06:43clearly not enough just to stamp out hate crime. We need to build hope
0:06:43 > 0:06:46and stronger communities which the green paper aims to do through
0:06:46 > 0:06:50initiatives such as the integration innovation fund. This fund will
0:06:50 > 0:06:57allow organisations to test out approaches to bring people together
0:06:57 > 0:07:01through shared activities and shared community spaces. Madam Deputy
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Speaker, none of these measures dilutes the Government's commitment
0:07:05 > 0:07:08to protect peoples legitimate right to free speech and to practice their
0:07:08 > 0:07:13religion within the law. Indeed, the green paper reaffirms this
0:07:13 > 0:07:19commitment. But we cannot and we will not shy away from challenging
0:07:19 > 0:07:23cultural practices which are harmful, particularly for women and
0:07:23 > 0:07:26girls. Recent news about the abuses in Telford highlights just how
0:07:26 > 0:07:34important this issue is. Madam Deputy Speaker, we will also expand
0:07:34 > 0:07:38our strengthening faith institutions programme to help a wide range of
0:07:38 > 0:07:41faith institutions to tighten up their governing structures including
0:07:41 > 0:07:47promoting the participation of women and young people. We will support
0:07:47 > 0:07:50training faith leaders to practice in a British context by ensuring
0:07:50 > 0:07:53that they understand the British legal system, British culture and
0:07:53 > 0:07:57our shared values. The recent independent review of Ejaria law
0:07:57 > 0:08:05also recommended amending legislation to ensure that civil
0:08:05 > 0:08:08marriages are conducted before or at the same time as the religious
0:08:08 > 0:08:10marriage ceremony. The Government shares the concerns which were
0:08:10 > 0:08:16raised in this report and a supportive of this principle and
0:08:16 > 0:08:21this recommendation. The Secretary of State for Justice will explore
0:08:21 > 0:08:24the legal and practical challenges of a limited reform to the law to
0:08:24 > 0:08:30reflect this. We recognise issues play out differently in different
0:08:30 > 0:08:35places and for different people. So we are going to work with five very
0:08:35 > 0:08:41different parts of the country. Blackburn, Bradford, Peter bra,
0:08:41 > 0:08:50Walsall and Waltham Forest to develop strategies to best approach
0:08:50 > 0:08:54measures on the ground. The best approach is to look at integration
0:08:54 > 0:09:01measures at the local and national level so we can assess what works.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05It is a sign of a mature society that we can discuss these issues
0:09:05 > 0:09:09without lazy stereotyping or oversensitivity and I look forward
0:09:09 > 0:09:13to a constructive debate with all those in this House and beyond who
0:09:13 > 0:09:15we can focus with and focus on what unites us rather than what divides
0:09:15 > 0:09:23us. Guided by this evidence and an acknowledgement but we'll have a
0:09:23 > 0:09:30role to play, both new arrivals in making a new life and existing
0:09:30 > 0:09:33communities to support them. As the proud son of immigrants whose
0:09:33 > 0:09:37parents worked hard to get on and give something back, I want everyone
0:09:37 > 0:09:40in Britain too enjoyed the same opportunities to celebrate where
0:09:40 > 0:09:45they come from while playing a full and proper role in British society,
0:09:45 > 0:09:49to see people from all backgrounds mixing freely without fear, to
0:09:49 > 0:09:54ensure that everyone, regardless of whether they are a new arrival they
0:09:54 > 0:09:57can trace their ancestry back to the Norman conquest feels proud to call
0:09:57 > 0:10:02this country their home. This Green paper proposes an ambitious
0:10:02 > 0:10:05programme of action across Government to help achieve just
0:10:05 > 0:10:13that. I commend it to the House. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and
0:10:13 > 0:10:19I'd like to thank the Secretary of State for his statement and for
0:10:19 > 0:10:21bringing to the House the Government's long-awaited
0:10:21 > 0:10:27integration strategy. From the start, I want to echo his comments
0:10:27 > 0:10:31on the punish the Muslim letters. The people who did this have no
0:10:31 > 0:10:37place in our society. We must do much more in this House to speak
0:10:37 > 0:10:41about the power that diversity has the enrich our lives. In December
0:10:41 > 0:10:442016, we were told that the Secretary of State was studying the
0:10:44 > 0:10:47findings very closely and that the Government's strategy would appear
0:10:47 > 0:10:52in the New Year. 15 months later, I hope that the delay in publishing
0:10:52 > 0:10:56has given the Secretary of State sufficient time to reflect and
0:10:56 > 0:11:01produce a robust strategy. However, I do welcome his decision to visit
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and adult learning Centre in Waltham Forest this morning, a Labour
0:11:04 > 0:11:08council that despite seeing their budgets slashed are working hard for
0:11:08 > 0:11:12the community. The Government has much to learn from the work they are
0:11:12 > 0:11:15doing now. Imagine how much these vital services could achieve across
0:11:15 > 0:11:20the country if they were properly funded. I know that the money that
0:11:20 > 0:11:25the Secretary of State has committed today to that authority will go far
0:11:25 > 0:11:28in supporting the ESO well programme. Breaking down the
0:11:28 > 0:11:32barriers that exist between communities is the best tool we have
0:11:32 > 0:11:35two challenge hostility and mistrust, so we welcome the
0:11:35 > 0:11:40Government's refocus on English-language provision but these
0:11:40 > 0:11:42actions do little to reverse the massive cuts which have been
0:11:42 > 0:11:46lamented by his Government. According to the House of Commons
0:11:46 > 0:11:53library, between 2009 and 2010 and 2015 to 2016, funding for inclusion
0:11:53 > 0:11:56in the second language fell in real terms from 222 million to just 90
0:11:56 > 0:12:01million. It is unclear what proportion of the 50 million will be
0:12:01 > 0:12:06used to reverse these cuts, however, it is clear that it is not enough to
0:12:06 > 0:12:12undo the damage. We recognise how important it is for people arriving
0:12:12 > 0:12:18into the UK to be able to speak English, but cuts to the sector have
0:12:18 > 0:12:21left the sector in a dangerous state of disrepair. Whilst this new
0:12:21 > 0:12:26funding is welcomed, we need to go further. We have committed two
0:12:26 > 0:12:29re-establishing the English as a second language classes and making
0:12:29 > 0:12:33them free at the point of use to all who need them. In her report, Dame
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Casey said the problem has not been a lack of knowledge but the failure
0:12:36 > 0:12:43of collective persistent world to do something about it or to give it the
0:12:43 > 0:12:48priority it needs at both national and local level. It is disappointing
0:12:48 > 0:12:52that there is no new policy today, but rather another consultation for
0:12:52 > 0:12:57potential policy and one which is not being incremented nationally but
0:12:57 > 0:13:01amongst a small selection of target areas. It does seem that that
0:13:01 > 0:13:05disappointment was shared by Dame Louise. On the today programme this
0:13:05 > 0:13:08morning she said, it will take more than 50 million over the years and
0:13:08 > 0:13:11it's something the whole country will have to embrace. The
0:13:11 > 0:13:15differences in this country at the moment are too great and we need
0:13:15 > 0:13:20something which heals the nation. She also said that work has been
0:13:20 > 0:13:25done that has often been piecemeal and lacked a clear programme of
0:13:25 > 0:13:28evaluation and again, she was disappointed in this today. She
0:13:28 > 0:13:33again said she had hoped for big, bold strategies to make seismic
0:13:33 > 0:13:36change and you mentioned the rough sleeping unit that she headed up
0:13:36 > 0:13:39under the last Labour Government and said we ended the need for people to
0:13:39 > 0:13:43sleep rough on the streets of this country and we drastically reduced
0:13:43 > 0:13:47anti-social behaviour. I would like to see coming out of their strategy
0:13:47 > 0:13:52something on that level. Also on this point, I want to add that the
0:13:52 > 0:13:56Government need to ensure that the work they are proposing in the Green
0:13:56 > 0:13:59paper is supported with evidence and has a proper system of evaluation in
0:13:59 > 0:14:03place. I would welcome if the Secretary of State would provide
0:14:03 > 0:14:08some details of this today. The Casey review also refers to the rise
0:14:08 > 0:14:15in hate crimes in the EU referendum. Hate crime soared by 41% after the
0:14:15 > 0:14:17vote and I know the Secretary of State will join me in condemning
0:14:17 > 0:14:22those who stoked this violence. But I am sure he will also agree with me
0:14:22 > 0:14:26that there is a need for a greater level of respect amongst members of
0:14:26 > 0:14:32this House because we should be leading by example on this. On
0:14:32 > 0:14:36education, mixing with children from other backgrounds and religions
0:14:36 > 0:14:40throughout their school life is indeed one of the best ways of
0:14:40 > 0:14:45preventing barriers being erected in the first place. A former number ten
0:14:45 > 0:14:48aide said that instead of simply learning about British values of
0:14:48 > 0:14:52tolerance, children should be living it. How then will the Secretary of
0:14:52 > 0:14:56State ensure that children will mix with all cultures and religions as
0:14:56 > 0:15:01the new Education Secretary recently suggested that he was in favour of
0:15:01 > 0:15:06ditching the 50% cap on religious ad missions to new oversubscribed faith
0:15:06 > 0:15:12schools? Also, will he commit to subjecting independent schools to
0:15:12 > 0:15:16community impact assessments? I hope that today's announcement signals a
0:15:16 > 0:15:20new commitment from the whole of Government by ten integration
0:15:20 > 0:15:25innovation fund to make better use of shared community spaces such as
0:15:25 > 0:15:27parks and libraries will do little for the many communities where the
0:15:27 > 0:15:34facilities have glazed as a result of Government cuts. -- have closed.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38This strategy should be a blueprint for the type of society we want our
0:15:38 > 0:15:42children to grow up in. It should be bold, ambitious, and Dame Louise has
0:15:42 > 0:15:47said, it should be backed with serious funding. So we welcome the
0:15:47 > 0:15:51broad thrust of the strategy as an overdue, small first step. But
0:15:51 > 0:15:55despite criticism that it lacks some of the ambition we would like, we
0:15:55 > 0:16:00would like the strategy to be deeper and wider in its approach, there are
0:16:00 > 0:16:07some positive ideas in the statement. The true test will be
0:16:07 > 0:16:09whether there is rigorous evaluation and whether any successful strategy
0:16:09 > 0:16:13is given the backing and the money to be expanded to all areas. And
0:16:13 > 0:16:18that extremism, both Islamist and far right, can be consigned to
0:16:18 > 0:16:21history and that we can go forward with a diverse, not diverted
0:16:21 > 0:16:29Britain. -- not a divided Britain. Let me first thank the honourable
0:16:29 > 0:16:32lady for her comments and for broadly welcoming the strategy. She
0:16:32 > 0:16:38started by mentioning the work of Dame Louise Casey, the work she has
0:16:38 > 0:16:42done for years on this, including of course the report but she published.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Let me take this opportunity to thank again Dame Louise Casey for
0:16:45 > 0:16:51what she has done and that very valuable report. Of course that was
0:16:51 > 0:16:54an important input into developing the strategy as well as evidence
0:16:54 > 0:16:59from other sources and actually from what I've seen from Dame Louise
0:16:59 > 0:17:03Casey today, she has welcomed this report. Of course there are things
0:17:03 > 0:17:06that she might have done differently, but she has also
0:17:06 > 0:17:10broadly welcome to this report and I thank her for that. The honourable
0:17:10 > 0:17:15lady then went on to mention English-language and once again I
0:17:15 > 0:17:20welcome her support and understanding that this is a major
0:17:20 > 0:17:23issue and we should do much more to try to support those people who have
0:17:23 > 0:17:28settled in our country, those who speak no or very little English to
0:17:28 > 0:17:31learn that language for all the obvious reasons and you mentioned
0:17:31 > 0:17:36the visit, for example, I made today to Walthamstow, to the Queen 's
0:17:36 > 0:17:39grave learning centre, by which I was very impressed with what I saw
0:17:39 > 0:17:45from the way it is run and also the people that I met who have, within
0:17:45 > 0:17:48just a year, led an incredible amount of English. How they talked
0:17:48 > 0:17:52about how it transformed their lives. I am very supportive of that
0:17:52 > 0:17:57kind of activity and that is why I am very pleased that it is also part
0:17:57 > 0:18:03of our plan to help more communities provide that kind of teaching. She
0:18:03 > 0:18:08also mentioned funding for English language. Of course funding is
0:18:08 > 0:18:12important but it is about more than just funding. What we have committed
0:18:12 > 0:18:16to today is first of all making sure that for the first time there is a
0:18:16 > 0:18:18national strategy across all Government departments, so my
0:18:18 > 0:18:22department, the Home Office, the education Department, all working
0:18:22 > 0:18:27together with one goal in terms of helping people to learn English. And
0:18:27 > 0:18:32also making use of community groups which often can get to those people
0:18:32 > 0:18:38that need to learn English in a much more practical and sensible way than
0:18:38 > 0:18:41may be as has been done traditionally and that is why we are
0:18:41 > 0:18:46keen to have these pilot areas, the five pilot areas which we have
0:18:46 > 0:18:49named, to recognise that there is not a one size fits all policy, that
0:18:49 > 0:18:52different approaches will be needed to achieve the same objectives and
0:18:52 > 0:18:55that they should be led by the evidence and I am glad that she
0:18:55 > 0:18:58agrees with us that everything should be led by evidence. The
0:18:58 > 0:19:02honourable lady also rightly condemned the hate crime of all
0:19:02 > 0:19:06types. My honourable friend fact that the dispatch backs -- stood at
0:19:06 > 0:19:09the dispatch box a few days ago to outline the hate crime strategy and
0:19:09 > 0:19:13how we are building on that and she does speak for everyone when she
0:19:13 > 0:19:17says everyone in this House, that hate crime of any type is
0:19:17 > 0:19:20unacceptable and I agree with her that people in this House should set
0:19:20 > 0:19:26an example and that applies to all sorts of hate crime, hate crime
0:19:26 > 0:19:31against Muslims and also anti-Semitic hate crime as well.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36Lastly, she mentioned faith schools and schooling more generally. She
0:19:36 > 0:19:39will recall my statement I talked about segregation in schools. This
0:19:39 > 0:19:43isn't really an issue just with some faith schools, it is equally an
0:19:43 > 0:19:47issue with non-faith schools and in many parts of the education sector.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52That is why I am pleased the Education Secretary, my right
0:19:52 > 0:19:55honourable friend, has agreed to review what can be done but also to
0:19:55 > 0:19:59work with these pilot areas immediately, starting with these
0:19:59 > 0:20:03areas, to see what strategies can be developed at a local level to try to
0:20:03 > 0:20:07reduce segregation which is what I believe is the first time a
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Government has committed to do that. My very last comment is also to
0:20:10 > 0:20:14welcome the fact that she has recognised this as a whole of
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Government strategy, something that really hasn't been done before by
0:20:17 > 0:20:20successive governments to recognise that almost every Government
0:20:20 > 0:20:24department, some clearly more than others, has a role to play in
0:20:24 > 0:20:29building a more integrated and cohesive society.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33First of all can I join my right honourable friend in utterly
0:20:33 > 0:20:38condemning the punisher Muslim letters. Having read the text of it,
0:20:38 > 0:20:41I am so appalled and I hope our government will ensure the full
0:20:41 > 0:20:47force of the law is put in to finding the senders of these letters
0:20:47 > 0:20:51and they are punished and I think the whole House can join in
0:20:51 > 0:20:55condemning the way in which certain members of this house have been
0:20:55 > 0:21:00specifically targeted in such an appalling way. Can I welcome the
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Green paper and also the funding and the determination of my right
0:21:04 > 0:21:07honourable friend to ensure social integration can be advanced,
0:21:07 > 0:21:12particularly by enabling people to speak English. In my own Muslim
0:21:12 > 0:21:17community in cash and I find it is often the older members of the
0:21:17 > 0:21:22community who have not achieved any fluency in English to any great
0:21:22 > 0:21:25degree. They are often women and they are often not aware of their
0:21:25 > 0:21:29rights and come play a full part in society. What does my right
0:21:29 > 0:21:35honourable friend propose to be able to reach older members of our
0:21:35 > 0:21:40communities to enable them to get the fluency in English they should
0:21:40 > 0:21:44have?Can I join my honourable friend in condemning the letters,
0:21:44 > 0:21:48the hate crime letters that we have all heard about this week. I can
0:21:48 > 0:21:52reassure her that is alive police investigation and the full force of
0:21:52 > 0:21:56the law will be used to find the perpetrators and make sure they are
0:21:56 > 0:22:00punished. She raised the issue of English language, particularly with
0:22:00 > 0:22:09older members of communities and she is quite right it can be harder with
0:22:09 > 0:22:11someone who has perhaps been here for 40, 50 years and still don't
0:22:11 > 0:22:14speak English properly. One of the things we have seen and we wish to
0:22:14 > 0:22:20expand on more to encourage those people to learn to speak English is
0:22:20 > 0:22:24to get people from their community to encourage them and invite them to
0:22:24 > 0:22:28settings that might be familiar and work with them. It might be a slower
0:22:28 > 0:22:33way of getting them into college or somewhere where they can learn
0:22:33 > 0:22:38English, but if it works, we will support it.I'd like to stop by
0:22:38 > 0:22:44condemning the letters that have been mentioned and the S&P contains
0:22:44 > 0:22:57racism and hate crimes of all kinds. This government has a cheap.
0:22:58 > 0:23:06There is no new money for to Bond and has been for many years. We also
0:23:06 > 0:23:21need to find out what posterity has done. This government has pandered
0:23:21 > 0:23:24to tabloids and stocked up anti-immigration rhetoric for years.
0:23:24 > 0:23:30They should apologise for their part in this. This is a government of go
0:23:30 > 0:23:35home fans, of impoverishing and making destitute asylum seekers,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39preventing them from working which would aid immigration. As deeming
0:23:39 > 0:23:49highly skilled migrants as a threat to national security. In Scotland we
0:23:49 > 0:24:01are working hard on this because it really matters. Our new integration
0:24:01 > 0:24:08strategy for immigrants happens from day one. We welcome those who have
0:24:08 > 0:24:12done us be on art of making Scotland their home. I want to thank each and
0:24:12 > 0:24:20every one of them because we do not do that enough. The Scottish
0:24:20 > 0:24:34strategy consulted over 700 asylum seekers. We made provisions for
0:24:34 > 0:24:46asylum seekers to learn English for free. We have a Scottish refugee
0:24:46 > 0:24:52Council that encourages people to take a cup of tea with a refugee.
0:24:52 > 0:25:02Will the Minister look to Scotland for help?It's a shame that the
0:25:02 > 0:25:07honourable lady has taken such an unconstructive attitude. This issue
0:25:07 > 0:25:12concerns everyone. It's vitally important issue and the policies are
0:25:12 > 0:25:15setting out today primarily affect England. There are some issues like
0:25:15 > 0:25:20the life in the UK test that will be UK wide, but despite the attitude
0:25:20 > 0:25:24that the honourable lady has taken, we are ready to work with the
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Scottish Government to further our joint goals of having a more
0:25:28 > 0:25:33integrated society.I commend my right honourable friend for both his
0:25:33 > 0:25:38statement and the manner in which he has made it. Can I join with others
0:25:38 > 0:25:41in condemning the terrible atrocities that members across this
0:25:41 > 0:25:47House have suffered as a result of hate crime against them. In my
0:25:47 > 0:25:52constituency there are 161 languages spoken in our schools alone. My
0:25:52 > 0:25:57right honourable friend will be aware that the local select
0:25:57 > 0:26:02committee conducted a brief enquiry and we will return to this subject
0:26:02 > 0:26:07the game. One of the problems he has not mentioned however is that
0:26:07 > 0:26:11children with help from school often. Children that are in school
0:26:11 > 0:26:17is very rapidly learn English and they become part and parcel of
0:26:17 > 0:26:22society. Children that are withdrawn from education and do not go to
0:26:22 > 0:26:26school often don't pick of English very quickly, if not at all. It
0:26:26 > 0:26:30means they come play the full part in society. Can you update the house
0:26:30 > 0:26:36on what he is going to do to make sure the people who are withdrawn
0:26:36 > 0:26:39from education are properly educated and mix with other young children so
0:26:39 > 0:26:47that they get the opportunity to integrate into society?First of
0:26:47 > 0:26:51all, can I commend my honourable friend for his remarks and also take
0:26:51 > 0:26:57note that he represents one of the most diverse constituencies in the
0:26:57 > 0:27:00country and its richer and contribute stronger for that. He
0:27:00 > 0:27:05raised the issue about English and schooling and he is quite right.
0:27:05 > 0:27:17There are some people and evidence has shown that people are abusing
0:27:17 > 0:27:23the fact that they can take their children out of school and send them
0:27:23 > 0:27:28to other institutions. We have committed to a review of the
0:27:28 > 0:27:32guidelines on home-schooling and the requirements to have all schools
0:27:32 > 0:27:41registered and also to look at the powers of Ofsted.I welcome the
0:27:41 > 0:27:46Secretary of State's proposals, particularly in relation to Bradford
0:27:46 > 0:27:55where we met recently. Bradford is doing some great work around
0:27:55 > 0:28:02integration, but the truth is his government's ups of over 130 million
0:28:02 > 0:28:06to ESOL has decimated the local infrastructure to deliver on these
0:28:06 > 0:28:10plans he is talking about. What assurances can he give me that my
0:28:10 > 0:28:14city will not be left with this shoestring budget to deliver this
0:28:14 > 0:28:22vision of his?First of all we share the same goals. I know she cares
0:28:22 > 0:28:27deeply about this and we have spoken about these issues before. Bradford
0:28:27 > 0:28:34is one of those areas that is one of our pilot areas. We've already
0:28:34 > 0:28:37started work with them and there will have access to new funding. We
0:28:37 > 0:28:41want to work with them to innovate and listen to their ideas because
0:28:41 > 0:28:45they are the people on the ground dealing with these issues day in day
0:28:45 > 0:28:49out. Right to point out resources. They are important, but also
0:28:49 > 0:28:53practices and how it's done are equally important and we want to
0:28:53 > 0:28:59learn from that as well.On Sharia councils, how do we protect people
0:28:59 > 0:29:05who are ignorant of their rights and who are subject to peer pressure?A
0:29:05 > 0:29:09very good question from my right honourable friend. Once he gets a
0:29:09 > 0:29:12chance to look at the Green paper more closely he will see that we
0:29:12 > 0:29:17have set out a programme of how we want to make sure more people,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21including imams in mosques and others, are making people aware of
0:29:21 > 0:29:25their rights and where we had to take direct action, so to prohibit
0:29:25 > 0:29:30something such as the example I gave earlier regarding the change in
0:29:30 > 0:29:34marriage law to make sure that women are not being abused and taken
0:29:34 > 0:29:40advantage of, we will not hesitate to do that.There was much in the
0:29:40 > 0:29:43direction of this to support and the Secretary of State is right also to
0:29:43 > 0:29:51refer to this central importance of women in developing the strategy. I
0:29:51 > 0:29:55have seen locally some superb examples of best practice, including
0:29:55 > 0:29:58working with supplementary schools, working with parents through sure
0:29:58 > 0:30:03start centres and other forms of outreach including the kind of peer
0:30:03 > 0:30:07to peer Ricci has referred to, but he is wrong to say that this is all
0:30:07 > 0:30:11about more than money. Local authorities have to have the
0:30:11 > 0:30:15capacity to sort this out reach work and ensure that weather is through
0:30:15 > 0:30:18community groups through local councils themselves that they are
0:30:18 > 0:30:22able to do this. What we make sure that councils have the resources
0:30:22 > 0:30:26that they need to turn what is a conceptual vision around integration
0:30:26 > 0:30:34into practical reality?Can I be clear, I'm not saying money is
0:30:34 > 0:30:40unimportant. Of course proper funding is essential, but equally,
0:30:40 > 0:30:45using that funding appropriately in the most efficient way is just as
0:30:45 > 0:30:52important and she refers to examples around the country where councils
0:30:52 > 0:30:55and community groups have done good work and we should all learn from
0:30:55 > 0:31:03that.I'm very grateful for the secretary of state's statement
0:31:03 > 0:31:08today. Again, I want to talk about the importance of women,
0:31:08 > 0:31:11particularly as they, too, educate their children. What work has he
0:31:11 > 0:31:16done to look at how he can reach out to them in a health care setting so
0:31:16 > 0:31:20that those messages as he outlined in his statement cut across
0:31:20 > 0:31:27government? I mentioned earlier that this is a cross government strategy.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31That includes working with the Department of Health and in putting
0:31:31 > 0:31:36this together we have looked at what ways there are, so for example,
0:31:36 > 0:31:42either through local councils or community groups to make sure that
0:31:42 > 0:31:47people, particularly women are aware of their health rights. As Universal
0:31:47 > 0:31:52Credit is being rolled out by DWP, more people are coming into contact
0:31:52 > 0:31:55with the system, registering for the first time and were able to look at
0:31:55 > 0:31:58ways we can use the information to help more people and especially
0:31:58 > 0:32:06those that have perhaps other services they can use to make sure
0:32:06 > 0:32:14they get those offers. We've heard all this from governments in the
0:32:14 > 0:32:17past, including this current government. How can we guarantee
0:32:17 > 0:32:21this will make a difference and when is the government gave to address
0:32:21 > 0:32:26the issue that people for legitimate and sensible reasons choose to live
0:32:26 > 0:32:30segregated lives? What is the government going to do to make them
0:32:30 > 0:32:36integrate rather than choose segregation?We should not be
0:32:36 > 0:32:40allowing people to choose to live segregated lives. It's not something
0:32:40 > 0:32:44that will help them in the long term, especially is not good for
0:32:44 > 0:32:47them all the rest of society and that's at the heart of this strategy
0:32:47 > 0:32:52that we set out. We can't force people to integrate, of course not,
0:32:52 > 0:32:56but the government can do a lot, working with local government,
0:32:56 > 0:33:00community groups and others to encourage people to integrate. He is
0:33:00 > 0:33:07right that governments in the past have tried this and have had some
0:33:07 > 0:33:10successes, but I believe this is the boldest most far reaching strategy
0:33:10 > 0:33:14ever presented by any government. I unreservedly condemn the hateful
0:33:14 > 0:33:20letter sent to Muslim MPs, including the honourable member for Bedford in
0:33:20 > 0:33:23my own county. In South West Bedfordshire we have wonderful
0:33:23 > 0:33:29examples of the traveller communities. Children are in school,
0:33:29 > 0:33:34we get the parents into work. Can I remind both secretaries of state
0:33:34 > 0:33:39that the race disparity audit shows that the traveller community has the
0:33:39 > 0:33:48worst outcomes. Our planning policy does not help in this respect,
0:33:48 > 0:33:50providing unnecessary separation. The Secretary of State assure me
0:33:50 > 0:33:54that this very welcome proposal will also include the traveller community
0:33:54 > 0:33:57to make sure they are properly integrated for the benefit of
0:33:57 > 0:34:01everyone?
0:34:01 > 0:34:04I can assure my honourable friend that when we do about integration,
0:34:04 > 0:34:08it's about all communities, including of course the travelling
0:34:08 > 0:34:14community. He is right to point to the race disparity audit and the
0:34:14 > 0:34:17important piece of work which showed these disparities, especially when
0:34:17 > 0:34:23it came to education, standards from the travelling community and how
0:34:23 > 0:34:27they are not where anyone would want them to be. We are taking action
0:34:27 > 0:34:31both through the race disparity audit work but also my honourable
0:34:31 > 0:34:34friend might be aware that we will shortly publish a consultation on
0:34:34 > 0:34:40planning issues regarding the travelling community.Can I start
0:34:40 > 0:34:44off by thanking the Secretary of State for his condemnation of the
0:34:44 > 0:34:49literature that I received and other colleagues received and members of
0:34:49 > 0:34:52the Muslim community received. I also welcome the tone of his
0:34:52 > 0:34:59statement because in the past, certain kinds of proposals were
0:34:59 > 0:35:04often reflected in a way that stigmatised leading communities,
0:35:04 > 0:35:06particularly the British Muslim community, and can I ask him whether
0:35:06 > 0:35:14he agrees that they are fundamental to promoting integration is to
0:35:14 > 0:35:18provide security and protection to minority communities so that they
0:35:18 > 0:35:25have the confidence to live together with others. In many parts of the
0:35:25 > 0:35:29country, particularly those in small numbers, and given the rising level
0:35:29 > 0:35:32of hate crime, people do not still have the confidence to do that, so
0:35:32 > 0:35:36as part of the programme, I welcome the cross Government strategy to
0:35:36 > 0:35:40make sure that protection and protection against discrimination is
0:35:40 > 0:35:46something which gets high priority, along with the other measures.First
0:35:46 > 0:35:55of all, can I again contemn these hate crime -- condemn these hate
0:35:55 > 0:35:58crime letters which other than do so many people but including the
0:35:58 > 0:36:02honourable member and other members of this House. It is totally
0:36:02 > 0:36:05unacceptable in every way and I want to assure her that the authorities
0:36:05 > 0:36:08are doing everything they can divide the perpetrators and make sure they
0:36:08 > 0:36:11are punished for what they do. She is also correct about the point she
0:36:11 > 0:36:19has made giving people protection and confidence. I have seen examples
0:36:19 > 0:36:24of that myself throughout my life but especially as I've been doing
0:36:24 > 0:36:30research in preparing this green paper and in fact even today, the
0:36:30 > 0:36:34visit I made to Waltham Forest, showed me again from a number of the
0:36:34 > 0:36:40women I met, it was raped to hear how they have built up confidence to
0:36:40 > 0:36:44meet others, -- it was great to hear how they have built up confidence to
0:36:44 > 0:36:55meet others, to learn English and meet up.My ride honourable friend
0:36:55 > 0:37:01is aware of my political background in the London Borough of Tower
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Hamlets and my concerns about the integration and oversight of portion
0:37:04 > 0:37:08of those children being home educated. While appreciating the
0:37:08 > 0:37:12work and dedication of the genuine home educating community, would he
0:37:12 > 0:37:16consider implementing a ban on the home education of children in
0:37:16 > 0:37:21houseboats in which a member of that household has been convicted of any
0:37:21 > 0:37:24-- in household in which a member of that household has been convicted of
0:37:24 > 0:37:29any terrorism or hate crime related activity?Firstly, can I thank the
0:37:29 > 0:37:32honourable member for the work she has done to promote community
0:37:32 > 0:37:41integration in Tower Hamlets. She raises the abuse of the right that
0:37:41 > 0:37:45is rightly given of people to home educate and my right honourable
0:37:45 > 0:37:49friend the Education Secretary will review the guidelines for home
0:37:49 > 0:37:51education and particularly look at those instances where there is
0:37:51 > 0:37:55evidence of already where people claim to be home educating their
0:37:55 > 0:37:59children but in fact what they are doing is sending them to
0:37:59 > 0:38:01unregistered, unregulated schools, which is clearly a bad outcome for
0:38:01 > 0:38:09their children.I broadly welcomed this strategy at the opportunities
0:38:09 > 0:38:14it provides to Bradford to become a more cohesive place for all that can
0:38:14 > 0:38:17I urge the Government to make sure that its aims and ambitions are
0:38:17 > 0:38:21matched by sufficient funding to make them a reality? Also for the
0:38:21 > 0:38:24Secretary of State to recognise that the root cause of many of these
0:38:24 > 0:38:29problems is the lack of opportunity. There are too few good jobs, low
0:38:29 > 0:38:32levels of educational attainment and ultimately too many people living in
0:38:32 > 0:38:36poverty. Because if we truly want more integrated communities, we have
0:38:36 > 0:38:43to deal with these fundamental issues.The honourable lady is right
0:38:43 > 0:38:49to raise the issues and the importance of opportunities and how
0:38:49 > 0:38:53having a more integrated society will help with that, particularly
0:38:53 > 0:38:56learning English, but it's a lot more than that. It's about other
0:38:56 > 0:39:00skills required as well. It's good that we have a strong economy with
0:39:00 > 0:39:03more people employed than ever before, including more women than
0:39:03 > 0:39:07ever before, that is a prerequisite but there's a lot more to do and I
0:39:07 > 0:39:12hope she agrees that the strategy helps.Thank you, Madam Deputy
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Speaker, and I join with colleagues in condemning the letters received
0:39:15 > 0:39:21by other members of this House. When they attack one member of this House
0:39:21 > 0:39:26to do their job, they attack all of democracy. During my time in
0:39:26 > 0:39:30Coventry, I saw what faith communities can do. I spoke in
0:39:30 > 0:39:37temples about my faith and also heard from other faith groups. What
0:39:37 > 0:39:42role do you see faith groups playing in delivering their strategy?My
0:39:42 > 0:39:48honourable friend gives me the opportunity to thank so many people
0:39:48 > 0:39:53from every faith that brings so many people together. I have seen so many
0:39:53 > 0:40:08examples myself, whether it is through schools or masks -- and I
0:40:08 > 0:40:12hope that they will bid for some of the funds so that they can see how
0:40:12 > 0:40:16they can enable others to do what they are already doing.I endorse
0:40:16 > 0:40:22all the comments that have been made about the appalling letters. I very
0:40:22 > 0:40:31much welcome this strategy not least because it incorporates so many
0:40:31 > 0:40:39points already made an integration, but I also welcome that the
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Secretary of State recognises that integration is a two-way street and
0:40:42 > 0:40:48doesn't fall into the trap of seeing integration as a conflagration of
0:40:48 > 0:40:52counterterrorism. It is so important that we recognise that the three
0:40:52 > 0:40:57quarters of a million people that he refers to who are not fully fluent
0:40:57 > 0:41:00in English, we emphasise that they want to learn English. The fact that
0:41:00 > 0:41:04they don't know English well is not because they don't want to. Just
0:41:04 > 0:41:07like his mother, they want to learning Dutch. The second point is
0:41:07 > 0:41:11that much of our discourse across the House today have looked at
0:41:11 > 0:41:17divisions along racial lines, immigration lines and divisive lines
0:41:17 > 0:41:21but it goes beyond that. There are major divisions between the
0:41:21 > 0:41:26different generations and most importantly we cannot forget the big
0:41:26 > 0:41:29divisions between socioeconomic classes in our country, too, and I
0:41:29 > 0:41:34hope of his strategy you take that on board and look that integration
0:41:34 > 0:41:37in that holistic way, bringing in all the characteristics that
0:41:37 > 0:41:41sometimes divide us from each other. On the whole, I think this is a very
0:41:41 > 0:41:47good move from the Government.The first of all, let me thank the
0:41:47 > 0:41:50honourable gentleman, not just for the comments that he made but for
0:41:50 > 0:41:56the work that he's done as chair of the APPG on integration and the
0:41:56 > 0:41:59report he referred to, when it was published, I read it carefully and
0:41:59 > 0:42:03it has helped me and my team to develop the strategy today so I very
0:42:03 > 0:42:07much welcome the work he does and continues to do on this very
0:42:07 > 0:42:11important issue. He is also right to emphasise that this is a two-way
0:42:11 > 0:42:16street. I very much agree with him on that. It's very important, as
0:42:16 > 0:42:21well as emphasising that this is all about integration and community
0:42:21 > 0:42:26integration and building that cohesion and not about extremism.
0:42:26 > 0:42:31There are two questions about people learning English and wanting to
0:42:31 > 0:42:35Leningrad. There will be a small minority that don't see the
0:42:35 > 0:42:39advantage, but -- and wanting to learn English, there will be a small
0:42:39 > 0:42:42minority that going to the advantage, but it is our job to show
0:42:42 > 0:42:48them why there is an advantage. As I saw this morning in Waltham Forest,
0:42:48 > 0:42:53all the women I met, so they were so eager to show off how were they
0:42:53 > 0:42:58could speak English after just a year. He is absolutely right in his
0:42:58 > 0:43:01final point about breaking down the divisions and taking what he
0:43:01 > 0:43:06described as a holistic approach and not through a narrow window and I
0:43:06 > 0:43:13very much agree with him on that. Can I thank the Secretary of State
0:43:13 > 0:43:16for his statement. As someone who grew up in Northern Ireland in the
0:43:16 > 0:43:221970s, I remember how important it was, the voluntary society helping
0:43:22 > 0:43:26to reach out across communities. Madam Deputy Speaker, during the
0:43:26 > 0:43:28Afghanistan war, there were many brave local people who helped
0:43:28 > 0:43:34support the British Army acting as translators and some of them needed
0:43:34 > 0:43:40to be evacuated for their own risk. Three families came to Chelmsford.
0:43:40 > 0:43:44The men, the fathers, spoke English but the three women didn't. And the
0:43:44 > 0:43:47local women in Chelmsford reached out and started an English for women
0:43:47 > 0:43:54project. English for women meets three mornings a week now, there are
0:43:54 > 0:43:58many dozens of families and women that help, there are lots of retired
0:43:58 > 0:44:03teachers who help across communities, across faiths. It's a
0:44:03 > 0:44:09fantastic example, so would my right honourable friend consider visiting
0:44:09 > 0:44:14this and would he consider also helping to twin these organisations
0:44:14 > 0:44:22with other volunteer organisations across the country?First of all, I
0:44:22 > 0:44:25will absolutely consider visiting Chelmsford and learning for myself
0:44:25 > 0:44:29about English for women. It sounds like they've done fantastic work and
0:44:29 > 0:44:33I think lessons can be learned by others, but I would also encourage
0:44:33 > 0:44:37them to make application for our new innovation fund, because I think
0:44:37 > 0:44:42they could very much do without help.You might be forgiven for
0:44:42 > 0:44:48wondering what on earth this member can have to say about that matter,
0:44:48 > 0:44:54but nevertheless, in my constituency we have had a large number of Polish
0:44:54 > 0:45:00community members who have lived amongst us and a very great
0:45:00 > 0:45:05contribution they make to our community. I want to turn to the
0:45:05 > 0:45:08police force. Police Scotland has worked extremely hard to build up
0:45:08 > 0:45:12the confidence of the Polish community and today I think I can
0:45:12 > 0:45:17say that that is very important to highly effective policing. So with
0:45:17 > 0:45:21the Secretary of State agree with me that this is crucial in other parts
0:45:21 > 0:45:27of the UK as local police forces have the confidence of ethnic groups
0:45:27 > 0:45:31and they build on that confidence, with action taken by the Government
0:45:31 > 0:45:36where possible.I very much agree with the honourable member on the
0:45:36 > 0:45:41importance of making sure that the local police force, whomever that
0:45:41 > 0:45:47maybe, is seen as very much a part of the local community. After all,
0:45:47 > 0:45:52in this country we police by consent and that's a very valuable principle
0:45:52 > 0:45:57and it means making sure that all communities feel the police are
0:45:57 > 0:46:00there for them. It is something I have discussed with the Home
0:46:00 > 0:46:12Secretary and I do something I know she sees as equally important.
0:46:12 > 0:46:21I'd like to echo the sentiments made by my colleague, the honourable
0:46:21 > 0:46:25member. Tim, and I would like to ask what impact assessment has been made
0:46:25 > 0:46:29on funding for the five pilot areas, because one of those is my
0:46:29 > 0:46:32constituency of Peter borough and I know the Secretary of State has said
0:46:32 > 0:46:35that he doesn't want further division, so I wish to ensure there
0:46:35 > 0:46:42is funding there for us.It sounds like the honourable lady welcomes
0:46:42 > 0:46:45that Peter borough is one of the areas and it's good to see because
0:46:45 > 0:46:49we started working with them a while back and we are very keen to work
0:46:49 > 0:46:53with them within the department. As well as working with them on ideas,
0:46:53 > 0:46:58each initiative that they have put in -- and that they put in place
0:46:58 > 0:47:01will have to be properly funded and we look forward to working with them
0:47:01 > 0:47:05on that basis.Can I welcome the money being given to my borough of
0:47:05 > 0:47:11Waltham Forest and can the Secretary of State -- had the Secretary of
0:47:11 > 0:47:14State given me more than an hour's noticed this morning, I would
0:47:14 > 0:47:18happily have met with him this morning when he met my local men and
0:47:18 > 0:47:23women. At the would have told him, I'm sure, that we reject the dog
0:47:23 > 0:47:31will --. Whistle politics as these integration as a one Way St. We
0:47:31 > 0:47:34would also have told him that the challenge to integration that we see
0:47:34 > 0:47:39in our borough is not just about being able to speak the same
0:47:39 > 0:47:42language, it's also about having the time to put down the route I get to
0:47:42 > 0:47:45know each other. Something that spiralling rents and house prices
0:47:45 > 0:47:50put at risk. Will he commit in moving forward to tracking what
0:47:50 > 0:47:53impact housing tenure has an education and when you join with all
0:47:53 > 0:47:57of us in the King at how we can have longer and more secure tenancies to
0:47:57 > 0:48:01give people the opportunity to know that good neighbours can become good
0:48:01 > 0:48:05friends?Yes, I can give the honourable lady that assurance. Let
0:48:05 > 0:48:09me apologise if you only got one hour 's notice. That is completely
0:48:09 > 0:48:13unacceptable. I was hoping to see how there but now I know where that
0:48:13 > 0:48:16was not possible. She can be assured that I was very impressed by what I
0:48:16 > 0:48:20saw at the Queens Road learning Centre and I met council leaders
0:48:20 > 0:48:23there as well responsible for the programme and I would like to see
0:48:23 > 0:48:31more of that activity across the country, not just do more than
0:48:31 > 0:48:33Forest and the pilot areas. She is also right about the issue of
0:48:33 > 0:48:36helping people to put down roots and to learn from other members of their
0:48:36 > 0:48:39community. For example, one of the examples I saw at the learning
0:48:39 > 0:48:45centre as well as the second language learning centres was a chat
0:48:45 > 0:48:48group not just about learning English but making friends and
0:48:48 > 0:48:52making them more comfortable within their local community.
0:48:52 > 0:48:59Can I welcome this statement and indeed invite the Secretary of State
0:48:59 > 0:49:03to the jewe will in the Crown of bad ford. A day's notice will be fine,
0:49:03 > 0:49:06to view progress at a later date. Does the Secretary of State agree
0:49:06 > 0:49:12with me it's particular important that parents in Keighley and
0:49:12 > 0:49:14Bradford can speak English to guide their children at school and their
0:49:14 > 0:49:18choice of friends and choice of careers and so on. It's important
0:49:18 > 0:49:23that churches and mosques that promote the value of family life get
0:49:23 > 0:49:38behind this promotion of English teaching?I thought you were calling
0:49:38 > 0:49:42me Anna there, Madame Deputy Speaker. Can I agree with the
0:49:42 > 0:49:47honourable gentleman about the importance of mosques and churches,
0:49:47 > 0:49:50temples and faith institutions and the role they can play in, not just
0:49:50 > 0:49:55serving their faith communities, but also in building that cohesion. As I
0:49:55 > 0:49:58mentioned in an earlier question, I've seen many examples of that.
0:49:58 > 0:50:03When it comes to learning English and encouraging those that might be
0:50:03 > 0:50:07reluctant they have an important role to play.Thank you very much.
0:50:07 > 0:50:12My apologies to the Secretary of State. I've just heard that
0:50:12 > 0:50:17Roundhill Primary School issued a letter to all its parents because
0:50:17 > 0:50:20some of their Muslim families have received these horrible, hateful
0:50:20 > 0:50:24letters. I know he'll join me in expressing his complete condemnation
0:50:24 > 0:50:30of that. Would he also agree with me that that is hate. But actually a
0:50:30 > 0:50:36lot of this stems from two twin problems of ignorance and blied
0:50:36 > 0:50:39prejudice and we should all of us, which ever community our lives
0:50:39 > 0:50:47touch, do everything that we can to get rid of that ignorance and
0:50:47 > 0:50:51prejudice that in its extreme form that ends up with people sending
0:50:51 > 0:50:56horrible, hateful and actually very seriously criminal offensive
0:50:56 > 0:51:03letters.Well, first of all, can I condemn whoever may have sent the
0:51:03 > 0:51:07letters to the parents of her primary school in her constituency
0:51:07 > 0:51:14and extend my support to those parents. And what she has outlined
0:51:14 > 0:51:21goes to the heart of this strategy today, which is to, for everyone to
0:51:21 > 0:51:25recognise that when we reduce segregation, build a better
0:51:25 > 0:51:29integrated society it builds more trust between people and it helps
0:51:29 > 0:51:32them to get on better and to put aside any prejudices that they might
0:51:32 > 0:51:35have had. That's why it's so important we see this strategy
0:51:35 > 0:51:43through.Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. Funding cut since 2010
0:51:43 > 0:51:47would be a big way of improving integration. I was really pleased to
0:51:47 > 0:51:51see the Secretary of State for Education on the Treasury bench
0:51:51 > 0:51:55during this statement because I want to ask about home education. I want
0:51:55 > 0:51:59to know if the Secretary of State can say a little bit more about the
0:51:59 > 0:52:03approach he thinks is likely to be adopted because the last time
0:52:03 > 0:52:07parliament discussed home education and regulation, his party took a
0:52:07 > 0:52:11very firm view they didn't want to have any regulation at all. So it's
0:52:11 > 0:52:14interesting to note that it seems the frontbench may have moved on
0:52:14 > 0:52:20that. I would be interested to know a little bit more about that.Well,
0:52:20 > 0:52:24Madame Deputy Speaker when it comes to home education the first thing to
0:52:24 > 0:52:26recognise is it's a valuable and important right and that won't
0:52:26 > 0:52:31change. There are many examples of excellent home education. Of course
0:52:31 > 0:52:38we welcome that. We have seen sadly examples, and some have been
0:52:38 > 0:52:43reported recently, were the home education has led to a bad outcome
0:52:43 > 0:52:46for those children and has not helped them, but it hasn't helped
0:52:46 > 0:52:52wider society. That's why the Government, across government, the
0:52:52 > 0:52:58work that was going to be led by my right hop rake friend the Education
0:52:58 > 0:53:00Secretary. He will review the guidelines on home education and
0:53:00 > 0:53:04also make sure that all children that are being home educated are
0:53:04 > 0:53:09properly registered. At this point, there is no register of who is being
0:53:09 > 0:53:12educated at home and to make sure that those rights that are very
0:53:12 > 0:53:16valuable to home education are not abused but, at the same time,
0:53:16 > 0:53:20they're protected.Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker. Can agree with the
0:53:20 > 0:53:24Secretary of State on the role of faith groups in the pursuit of
0:53:24 > 0:53:32integration. Would he join with me in congratulating the Well Project
0:53:32 > 0:53:36in my constituency which helps refugee and asylum seekers integrate
0:53:36 > 0:53:39through the provision of English as an additional language and through
0:53:39 > 0:53:44women and girls leadership. I have to say on a practical level to the
0:53:44 > 0:53:56Secretary of State, since Government privatised the refugee and asylum
0:53:56 > 0:53:59resettlement things have gone backward. There isn't integration
0:53:59 > 0:54:02with the rest of civil society. We will have to work ten times as hard
0:54:02 > 0:54:09to catch up with the model we used to have.The honourable gentleman
0:54:09 > 0:54:13raised the issue of resettlement. He might be interested to know one of
0:54:13 > 0:54:17the policies we will be reviewing through this green paper is the
0:54:17 > 0:54:22support that is provided to people that rightly, legitimately settle in
0:54:22 > 0:54:27this country, but the support that is provided on a long-term basis. We
0:54:27 > 0:54:31have tended to have approach under successive governments when people
0:54:31 > 0:54:35have their leave to remain they are left alone, on their own and having
0:54:35 > 0:54:39an approach where they are constantly provided information.
0:54:39 > 0:54:43That #24e are helped along with that process, perhaps the process that
0:54:43 > 0:54:45will lead to citizenship is very important. I'm pleased the Home
0:54:45 > 0:54:50Secretary will be revealing that. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker.
0:54:50 > 0:54:57I'd like to congratulate this House and cross-party total condemnation
0:54:57 > 0:55:00of the vile messages that has gone out to some of our colleagues. There
0:55:00 > 0:55:07is no place in this country for such prejudice and hate. I'd like to tell
0:55:07 > 0:55:13the Secretary of State broadly I welcome this national strategy and
0:55:13 > 0:55:17I'm extremely pleased that Blackburn will be a pilot. As I'm sure he is
0:55:17 > 0:55:24aware, there are a number of fantasticing cases of good examples
0:55:24 > 0:55:30were the communities have integrated and they are working towards it. I
0:55:30 > 0:55:35have spent my whole political life working on integration and Coele
0:55:35 > 0:55:39heegs for Blackburn. It adds value to the town and adds value to the
0:55:39 > 0:55:42people and it makes it a better place to live and work. Can I
0:55:42 > 0:55:48clarify from the Secretary of State of how the resources will be uzed
0:55:48 > 0:55:52because of course tackling just integration, we also need to tackle
0:55:52 > 0:55:55the social economic issues that are there. I would plead with the
0:55:55 > 0:56:00Secretary of State to come to Blackburn and share some of the
0:56:00 > 0:56:06experiences our communities have got to show.First of all, Madame Deputy
0:56:06 > 0:56:10Speaker, let me take the opportunity to thank the honourable lady for all
0:56:10 > 0:56:14the work she has been doing for Blackburn long before she was a
0:56:14 > 0:56:18member of this House as former leader of community cohesion
0:56:18 > 0:56:24integration. It's worked well-known to my department and ministers but
0:56:24 > 0:56:28also amongst wider communities that have looked at Blackburn. She has
0:56:28 > 0:56:32set a real example. I want to take the community to thank her for that.
0:56:32 > 0:56:45It's one of the reasons why Blackburn is a pilot. She mentioned
0:56:45 > 0:56:50social economic resources. What the paper talks about are the resources
0:56:50 > 0:56:56for interrogation what it will help do is leverage in other funding
0:56:56 > 0:57:00available for skills, perhaps through DWP or through the Education
0:57:00 > 0:57:03Department and others and that's an important way I think to look at the
0:57:03 > 0:57:08resource that is will be available. Thank you, Madame Deputy Speaker.
0:57:08 > 0:57:14Madame Deputy Speaker, as chair of the all party group on refugees I
0:57:14 > 0:57:17welcome this government's integration strategy as
0:57:17 > 0:57:20rerecommended one in our inquiry last year. I will send the Secretary
0:57:20 > 0:57:25of State a report of that inquiry that looks at refugees who want to
0:57:25 > 0:57:28work and contribute to our economy to the country that granted them
0:57:28 > 0:57:37asylum. Will the Secretary of State meet with me and discuss the points
0:57:37 > 0:57:41in that inquiry finding as to how it relates to his