Written question asked by Patrick Mercer (Conservative) on Wednesday, 4 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 6 March 2009. It was answered by Lord Khan of Tooting (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 March 2009 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Community Relations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, columns 582-83W, on community relations, (1) what steps her Department has taken in response to the observations on page 6 of the report on the learning and development exercise issued by the Audit Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary;

Answer: In responding to the observations in the "Preventing Violent Extremism: Learning and Development Exercise" report relating to assessing success, my department has responded by commissioning research from the Tavistock Institute and De Montfort University to investigate the national and international contributing factors to violent extremism; on 10 December 2008 the Secretary of State announced that we would be working to establish a national 'centre of excellence' that local areas can access for practical advice on Prevent; and we have published guidance produced jointly between Communities and Local Government, the Home Office and the Office for Public Management to assist local authorities and the police in reporting outcomes linked to National Indicator 35 (NI 35). Currently 19 local authorities have selected NI 35 as a priority indicator as part of their local area agreements. Progress against NI 35 for 2008-09, will be reported from April 2009.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 489 c476W;489 c478W; 262007
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Community Relations
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Community relations
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk