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Community Relations: Religion

Asked by Lisa SmartLiberal DemocratMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 24 June 2026UIN 900652

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to support cross-community interfaith work.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan

Interfaith relations are vital for strong, cohesive communities. Learning about different faiths and beliefs builds mutual understanding and contributes to community cohesion.

The government’s support for cross-community interfaith work is demonstrated by our continued support for the annual Inter Faith Week. We are working closely with the organisers of Inter Faith Week 2026 to ensure new audiences are engaged and grassroots cross-community initiatives are supported.

Our continued support for programmes such as Near Neighbours and Schools Linking means we are ensuring that local communities and young people continue to have opportunities to meet across differences, build understanding, and develop lasting relationships and friendships.

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