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Community Relations

Volume 486: debated on Thursday 15 January 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many local authorities have set up the multi-agency tension monitoring groups referred to in the document, “Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitoring”, published in May 2008; what the estimated running cost will be of such monitoring groups is; and if she will make a statement; (245550)

(2) how many local authorities have submitted to their Government Office monthly tension monitoring reports referred to in paragraph 66 of the publication, “Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitoring”, published in May 2008; and what use the Government make of these monthly reports;

(3) what safeguards exist to prevent people from misusing the tension monitoring groups referred to in the report, “Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitorin”, published in May 2008, in relation to local grievances;

(4) what procedures will exist to enable individuals to appeal against inaccurate data about themselves gathered under the tension monitoring arrangements referred to in the report, “Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitoring”, published in May 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 13 October 2008, Official Report, column 983W, on local authorities: surveillance, which local authorities are now undertaking tension monitoring according to records held by her Department. (245937)

Communities and Local Government does not hold a record of the number of local authorities who have set up multi-agency monitoring groups. Tension monitoring and contingency planning is about local partnership working and it is for local authorities to determine the systems they have in place and budget allocation needed to ensure they are able to effectively monitor tensions in their local areas.

The number of local authorities that submit monthly tension monitoring reports can vary each month. Communities and Local Government is therefore unable to keep a consistent record of the number of local authorities who submit monthly tension monitoring returns. We use the monthly reports to identify challenges to cohesion and to identify possible trends; this information is used to inform our strategy for supporting local authorities.

All contributors to the tension monitoring process are required to adhere to the principles of data collection set out in the Data Protection Act 1998. Each organisation that makes a contribution to tension monitoring should have local information sharing protocols in place.

The personal details of individual details are not required for tension monitoring reports. If an individual was mentioned it would be in the context of any civil arrangements brought by the local authority or as a result of any criminal procedures through the police/courts.