Written question asked by Tobias Ellwood (Conservative) on Wednesday, 6 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 11 January 2010. It was answered by Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 on behalf of the Home Office.

Islam4UK: Wootton Bassett

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refuse permission to Islam4UK to hold a demonstration in the town of Wootton Bassett if that group requests permission.

Answer: [holding answer 11 January 2010]: The Home Secretary issued a statement on 4 January that he would support the operational judgment of the police in consenting to a ban if Wiltshire police and the local authority received an application to march from Islam4UK and, under the provisions of the Public Order Act 1986, sought a banning order.The Home Secretary laid an Order on 11 January which came into force on 14 January and which provides that Islam4UK and a number of other names should be treated as alternative names for an organisation which is already proscribed as Al Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect. While the proposed march in Wootton Bassett was of no relevance to the consideration which led to this Order, one of the consequences of proscription is to criminalise any meeting organised by, in support of, or addressed by a member of Islam4UK.

Secondary information