§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that Government efforts to encourage community cohesion in the UK are not endangered by the current international situation. [104099]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 24 March 2003]: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 20 March 2003, Official Report, column 51WS, providing information 263W to the public about the threat of terrorism. In that statement he said that the Home Office is working with the police and other local agencies to ensure that tension levels within our communities are monitored on a daily basis. Within local areas agencies are working together—and with local communities—to provide reassurance and to ensure that there are arrangements in place to deal with any potentially difficult situations that might emerge. At this stage the assessments provided give us no reason to believe that there is a serious risk of a disturbance, and we are countering the close monitoring.