News Release

15th October 2006

RACIST ATTACKS AT UNIVERSITY

Michael Fabricant raised the problem of attacks by extreme Islamic students on British Jewish students studying at Higher Educational establishments in the UK in the House of Commons last week.

The text of the brief debate is shown below. Below that are further comments from Michael.

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): What assessment he has made of the number of racist incidents among students in higher education; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning (Bill Rammell): We do not make this assessment centrally. We have, however, established robust legal protection against racism and as a result individual universities should have clearly identified procedures in place for dealing with racist incidents. The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 places a general duty on university governing bodies to promote race equality in their institutions.

Michael Fabricant: The Minister has, I know, read the report of the all-party parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism, which talks about systematic racism in our universities. It gives examples of a brick being thrown through the window of a Jewish student and a poster bearing the words "Slaughter the Jews" pasted on a Jewish student's front door. This is being perpetrated by some extreme Islamic student groups. The report's main conclusion is that the response of vice-chancellors is at best patchy. What can the Government do to try to ensure that there is a consistent approach to combating anti-Semitism and all racism in all of our universities?

Bill Rammell: I am aware of the report; I gave evidence to the inquiry. I know that the hon. Gentleman has taken a great interest in these issues. I urge all vice-chancellors to take anti-Semitism and all forms of racism very seriously. The Government have placed strong legal obligations on all public bodies to tackle racism. The work that the equality challenge unit is doing with universities is the best way to spread good practice and tackle the issue.

David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion) (Lab/Co-op): I welcome my hon. Friend's comments. Does he agree, however, that one of the issues, as I have learned from speaking to students, is a reluctance on the part of some students to report incidents in the first place because they are not convinced that they will be dealt with properly by university authorities?

Bill Rammell: I certainly hope that my hon. Friend's concerns are misplaced. We have to create a climate of confidence, and the report by the all-party inquiry makes an important contribution. It is important that the Government take the lead and make it clear that we expect universities to take these issues very seriously.

Michael Fabricant now says: "Britain is a tolerant country and we have long accepted economic migrants and refugees into our community to the benefit of us all. But it ill behoves some groups who argue for one law for themselves and another for the rest of us. Extreme Islamic groups practising anti Judao-Christian acts in the United Kingdom either by preaching violence or committing actual violence against Jewish and Christian students cannot be tolerated any longer. Political correctness and fear of the accusation of being anti Islamist may have deterred some authorities from dealing firmly with this matter up until now.