§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to help reduce racial violence; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Peter LloydI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 25 November 1993 at column 167–69 for details of the steps taken by the Government to combat racial violence.
Since then, we have reconvened the interdepartmental racial attacks group, chaired by the Home Office, as a forum for gathering information and sharing good practice on the multi-agency approach to combating racially motivated crime. The group had its first meeting on 25 February and is now developing a work programme of specific projects aimed at addressing the problem of racial attacks and harassment.
In January I gave oral evidence to the Home Affairs Committee for its current inquiry into racial attacks and harassment. The Committee's report is due to be published in April, and future Government action will be informed by the Committee's recommendations.