Dame Louise Casey questioned on community cohesion

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• Communities and Local Government Committee

Witness

Monday 9 January 2017, Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

At 4.00pm

• Dame Louise Casey

Purpose of the session

The public session focuses on Dame Louise's recently published Casey Review into integration and opportunity in isolated and deprived communities, which she undertook at the request of Government.

The report found that segregation and social exclusion are at worrying levels and fuelling inequality in some areas of the country. Public bodies were accused of ignoring and even condoning divisive religious practices for fear of being called racists.

But critics said the review was too critical of Britain's Muslim communities, exaggerated the lack of loyalty and English language skills among migrants and did not focus enough on factors such as poverty, poor housing and limited access to good education and skills training.

Chair's comments

Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee, said:

"The Casey Review identified the scale and speed of substantial migration and the challenges it poses in parts of the UK where communities live side by side but with little interaction, let alone integration. The Government, meanwhile, has abolished targeted impact funds and cut resources for English language courses.

The Committee is looking forwarded to hearing directly from Dame Louise Casey, when we will examine some of her conclusions and recommendations in more detail and seek her view of how the  Government has responded to the findings so far and what more she would like to see happen. We will also be putting to her some of the criticism of her review, including concerns that it focuses too much on Britain's Muslim communities and that it overlooks wider social problems."

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
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