Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 22 September 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-10389 by Kevin Stewart on 9 August 2017, what action it is taking to tackle anti-Catholic prejudice specifically.
Our Tackling Prejudice and Building Connected Communities action plan contains a number of actions around tackling hate crime, including the establishment of a multi-agency delivery group and expert advisory panel to progress the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion; a national hate crime awareness raising campaign which will be launched in the autumn; and consideration of the findings of Lord Bracadale's independent review of hate crime legislation.
The role of education is recognised as critical in this regard, and we are committed to progressing the implementation of our new relationships and behaviour policy; publishing a refreshed approach to anti-bullying, including prejudice-based bullying; considering learning from evaluation of the education inspection indicator relating to inclusion, working with Education Scotland to ensure that best practice is disseminated; and exploring further the potential of youth work (as a model of peer-led intervention) to contribute to tackling hate crime and prejudice.
We will continue to work closely with representatives of the Catholic Church and other key stakeholders as we implement these actions.
For information, a full list of action commitments in this area can be found at http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/06/1336/5.