§ Clive EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent advice he has given to local authorities about tackling racism and promoting community cohesion. [69955]
§ Beverley HughesThe Government is committed to making race equality and community cohesion central to its aims.
We are committed to outlaw discrimination in employment by December 2003 as required by the European Employment Directives.
The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 came into force on 2 April. It places a general duty on specified public authorities to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination—and to promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups.
Public bodies were required to have in place by 31 May this year, realistic and timely plans to show how they intend to comply with the general duty.
The Government is working right across Departments on a number of measures to promote community cohesion. Our aim is to build communities where:
there is a common vision and a sense of belonging for all people—there is an appreciation of people's different backgrounds and circumstanceswhere those from different backgrounds have similar life opportunities; andstrong and positive relationships are being developed between people from different backgrounds in the work place, in schools and within neighbourhoods.The Government published draft Guidance on Community Cohesion in May this year, in conjunction with the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Local Government Association. The draft provides advice to local authorities on ways to integrate community cohesion
1061Wwithin their day to day operations. It focuses upon 16 themes covering housing, leisure, education, media, and training and employment schemes. Copies have been placed in the Library.
§ Clive EffordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been provided to each authority for tackling racism and promoting community cohesion in the last 12 months. [69956]
§ Beverley HughesThe Government believe that effectively addressing community cohesion issues forms a crucial part of the work of local government.
In working to achieve this aim, the Government are investing resources in local authorities through the following ways:
community facilitation work—these projects will help build capacity at a grass roots level and to bring local people together. This is important in order to encourage dialogue and tackle local grievances or misunderstandings that threaten good community and race relations;a summer activity programme—in response to last summer's disturbances; we made £7 million available to fund summer activities with over 200,000 beneficiaries. We have released further funding for a similar and extended programme for this year, including additional activities in those areas with high levels of street crime;a community support team programme—this is providing support to areas such as Burnley, Bradford and Oldham to help build the capacity of these areas in promoting community cohesion.In addition, the Community Cohesion Unit set up by the Home Office this year, which works to the Ministerial Group chaired by me, is working closely with local authorities.
Additionally, and in recognition of the need to genuinely build cohesion into the agenda of local government, the Government recently announced that community cohesion will form one of the key themes of the Government's beacon council scheme.
Draft guidance for local authorities has also been produced in conjunction with the Commission for Racial Equality and the Local Government Association. This sets out practical ways in which local authorities can integrate community cohesion into day-to-day operations. Copies have been placed in the Library.