The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) is today (Tuesday, 3
December) launching its first new inquiry of the Parliament into
community cohesion.
MPs on the newly appointed cross-party Committee, chaired by
Labour MP , will examine the state of
community cohesion nationwide and how barriers to it can be best
addressed.
The Committee will assess what actions the Government should take
to improve and sustain community cohesion across the country. The
inquiry comes in the wake of the 2024 summer riots and ongoing
threats faced by both Jewish and Muslim communities amid conflict
in the Middle East.
It also follows the publication of the Khan Review published in
March this year. Dame Sara Khan, the former Government's
Independent Adviser for Social Cohesion and Resilience, was
tasked with producing an independent review with recommendations
to build resilience against extremism, understand its impact, and
better support its victims.
The review concluded that
local authorities were struggling to manage evolving threats to
community cohesion amid a lack of resources, expertise and
capability. It also found that there was no adequate strategic
approach to cohesion and democratic resilience within Whitehall.
Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) Chair MP said: “Following
the summer riots earlier this year, it is more important than
ever to examine the present and future challenges to community
cohesion at both a local level and across the
country.
“This timely inquiry will engage with inter-cultural and
inter-faith groups to assess the barriers to cohesion and how to
improve and sustain it. It will also consider how schools can
improve social integration and strengthen the resilience of the
next generation.
“Against a backdrop of rising social media use,
disinformation and misinformation, it is imperative that
long-term and workable solutions are identified to neutralise the
threats to community cohesion.
“The Committee will listen carefully to a wide cross-section
of voices within our diverse and multi-faith communities and make
evidence-based recommendations to alter the dial on this crucial
issue.”
Terms of reference for the call for evidence:
- What assessments have been made of
community cohesion in the UK in a local and national context?
- What are the primary barriers and
threats to community cohesion?
- What impact does social media have
on community cohesion?
- What can be done at a local and
national level to improve community cohesion?
- What examples are there of best
practice which has positively impacted community cohesion?
- How should community cohesion be
best approached in schools?
The Committee invites written submissions through the inquiry
website addressing any
or all of the issues raised in the following terms of reference
by 31 January 2025.
