Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by John Baron (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 12 October 2005 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Engagements

Question: The Prime Minister will be aware that there is growing concern about the Government's proposed offence of inciting religious hatred, in that it could, and will, stifle our freedom of expression and is unnecessary. Will the Prime Minister allay those fears by doing something that his entire Front Bench has been unable to do so far—define the term ““religion”” and provide just one example of an act that would be caught by that legislation that could not be caught by existing legislation?

Answer: Obviously, incitement to racial hatred is already a crime. The reason for this legislation is that the problem with incitement to religious hatred not being a crime is that there can be people against whom hatred is incited who may be of one religion but not of one ethnic grouping. That is the reason for it. If, for example, people incite hatred against Muslims, that may not be against an ethnic grouping but it is against a religious grouping. That is the reason for the introduction of the measure. I understand the concerns and it is important that we take account of them, but I emphasise to the hon. Gentleman that before any prosecution is launched there will have to be the consent of the Attorney-General and the Director of Public Prosecutions. What this is aimed at, as with incitement to racial hatred, is not people making jokes about race, religion or anything else; it is against those who are going out to stir up divisions in our community in a way that is deeply unhelpful to community relations. Just as we obviously must take careful account of the objections that have been made, I hope that the hon. Gentleman will also take account of the opposing point of view.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 437 c284
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Crime Community relations Incitement Freedom of expression Religion Religious hatred
Link: View this Prime Minister's question on www.publications.parliament.uk