Community cohesion ‘tsar', Darra Singh, has praised the Government's ‘fresh momentum' in tackling social unrest. Mr Singh, Ealing LBC chief executive and chair of the commission on integration and cohesion, said he was ‘delighted' at communities secretary Hazel Blears' 10-point action plan to tackle community tensions. The plan was in response to the 10-month review by the commission. ‘I sense a fresh momentum across central and local government to tackle the challenges,' he said. ‘My report set out clear recommendations and the DCLG has recognised these, made the issue a top priority, and increased the funding to enable councils to build a cohesive and integrated society to £50m.' The Government action plan includes information packs for new migrants, the promotion of citizen days across England, and new national indicators on promoting cohesion. LGIU director of policy and public affairs, Ed Cox, said: ‘These hasty announcements will need to be judged carefully when further details emerge. ‘Exactly how will the new money be distributed?' he asked. ‘And will the two proposed new indicators be mandatory?' Ms Blears used the launch of a government study into citizenship to warn that too many people felt disenfranchised. The survey reveals that 81% of people feel that those from different backgrounds get on well together in their local area. ‘This survey also presents us with challenges and as a government, we need to ensure that Britain continues to be a place where people are proud to live and everyone can succeed,' said Ms Blears. ‘That means building on what we have already done to deliver equal opportunities and racial equality, and giving people a greater say in the way decisions that affect them are made.'
