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Combatting Hate against Muslims Fund

Asked by Sir James CleverlyConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 18 September 2025UIN 75988

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July 2025, HCWS872, on Combating Hatred Against Muslim Fund, what financial due diligence his Department undertook in relation to the appointment of the British Muslim Trust as a government-funded partner.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government received 34 applications to the Combating Hatred Against Muslim Fund.

All applicants were required to submit a detailed business plan as well as provide answers to questions related to 16 criteria. More information on the 16 criteria which applications were assessed against can be found on the fund’s prospectus - Combatting Hate Against Muslims fund: prospectus - GOV.UK.

Due diligence checks were undertaken into all high scoring applicants. Financial checks were undertaken using the Spotlight due diligence tool. This uses risk indicators, developed by national security and fraud experts to inform decisions about whether to award a grant or contract, and onward monitoring, providing real time information from a range of government and commercial data sources in order to risk assess grant applicants including any linked directors, companies and beneficial owners.

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