§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which recommendations of the(a) Cantle report and (b) Denham report on public order and community cohesion have been implemented; and what assessment he has made of the effect on communities of implementing those recommendations; [136240]
(2) how the implementation of the recommendations of the (a) Denham Report and (b) Cantle report is being monitored. [136241]
§ Fiona MactaggartCantle report recommendations have been implemented in relation to citizenship, the formation of a community cohesion task force and inter-agency support groups, guidance for local authorities, positive activities for young people and cultural sensitivity in schools. Among the report's recommendations for action at local level, progress continues to be made on mainstreaming community cohesion into local delivery frameworks, as well as on youth parliaments, cross-cultural youth services, school twinning and regeneration.
Denham report proposals have been implemented in relation to the establishment of an independent panel, conflict resolution and community facilitation, the measurement of community cohesion, housing choices, youth work, positive activities for young people, and hate crime. Progress is being made to mainstream community cohesion into Government policies relating to education and employment, neighbourhood renewal and regeneration, policing, Local Strategic Partnerships, community strategies and local political leadership.
Recommendations in the Cantle report which have not been taken forward by the Government include the setting of admission targets for mono-cultural schools.
235WThe effect on communities of initiatives to improve community cohesion are being measured via the Home Office citizenship survey. No data are yet available from this. In July 2003, the Home Office issued detailed guidance to local authorities and their partners on how to measure community cohesion. The Home Office Community Cohesion Unit, supported by the independent Community Cohesion Panel, monitors the implementation of the Cantle and Denham recommendations through its work with other Departments, Government Offices and local authorities.