Hackney Black People's Association (Hansard, 19 February 1986)

§ 10. Mr. Ottaway
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the funding of the Hackney Black People's Association.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Sir George Young)
I believe that most of the funding for Hackney Black People's Association comes from the GLC and Hackney borough council. In 1985–86 those two authorities are providing nearly £30,000 for an advice and information centre and for Afro-Caribbean arts and cultural activities. The association also manages a youth communications project, which has received support from the Hackney inner area programme amounting to £21,300 this year. This project aims to develop the communication skills of young unemployed black people and to improve their employment prospects.

§ Mr. Ottaway
Is my hon. Friend aware that the Hackney Black People's Association recently offered a platform to Mr. Louis Farrakhan, the anti-semitic admirer of Adolf Hitler? Is that a proper use of GLC funds?

§ Sir George Young
I was amazed that an association which purports to foster good race relations issued an invitation to someone who is notorious for his anti-semitic views. I was delighted that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary refused him admission.

§ Mr. Sedgemore
Does the Minister accept that most hon. Members deplore the anti-semitic views of Mr. Farrakhan, with his disgusting references to God's ovens, just as they deplore the attempts by the hon. Member for Northampton, North to bad mouth the Hackney Black People's Association and to act in a fashion that is calculated, if not designed, to incite racial hatred in Hackney? Does the Minister accept that all we ask for in Hackney is equivalent treatment with the people in the City of London down the road? When will we get that?

§ Sir George Young
My hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Ottaway) is an influential person, but I should be very surprised if his question this afternoon were to raise the temperature in Hackney.

§ Mr. Marlow
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore) referred to me, when he meant another hon. Member.

§ Mr. Speaker
I shall take points of order after Question Time.