The assessment of the threat to the UK from international terrorism is made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). JTAC assessments are made independently of Ministers.<\/p>
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The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) increased the UK national threat level from international terrorism to SEVERE (meaning that an attack is highly likely) on 26 August for the first time since 2011. This decision was related to developments in Iraq and Syria where groups including ISIL are planning attacks against the West. As the Prime Minister said on 26 September 2014, Official Report, column 1256, ISIL is a terrorist organisation unlike those we have dealt with before, and represents a direct threat to the British people. They have already murdered two British hostages, and are threatening the life of another. The first ISIL-inspired terrorist acts in Europe have already taken place.<\/p>
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There is also a threat to British nationals and interests from ISIL and groups affiliated with ISIL or Al-Qaeda in Arab and African countries. Amongst these groups are Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, operating in the Sahel, and Boko Haram and Ansaru in Nigeria. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice gives our most accurate assessment of the threat from terrorism to British nationals overseas.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL2150"} , {"_value" : "HL2151"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T12:29:11.201772Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Islamic State"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the security threat to Britain from current ISIL actions in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/259", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Marquess of Lothian"} ], "uin" : "HL2147"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/93724", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/93724/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The humanitarian reports from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the region are deeply concerning. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups continue to commit atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under their control. We condemn any and all abuses of human rights, including those against Christians.<\/p>
We are working closely with our international partners, including in the region, to try to assist and protect civilians - including Christians - from ISIL through a long-term, comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat this terrorist organisation.<\/p>
This strategy is being delivered by a large international coalition, where UK actions complement, and are coordinated with, those of other actors. It has security, political and humanitarian dimensions. For example, in Iraq, we are carrying out airstrikes against ISIL and are providing military assistance to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces so that they can restore control over the areas taken by ISIL. In Syria, we support military action by the US and five Arab states against ISIL; we are supporting the Syrian moderate opposition, who are fighting ISIL; and we continue to work for a political transition: when it comes to tackling ISIL, Assad is part of the problem, not part of the solution. In Lebanon, we continue to press for the election of a President, strengthen municipalities and support the Lebanese Armed Forces reassert state authority in their border regions On the humanitarian front, we continue to provide swift and substantial assistance to those who have fled areas controlled by ISIL, including air drops to deliver aid to those trapped by ISIL. On the diplomatic front, at the Human Rights Council in September we, alongside our international partners, secured a resolution strongly condemning ISIL and stressing the need for accountability.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3474", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Anelay of St Johns"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-24T12:33:27.5901778Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Middle East"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of ISIL on Christian communities in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon; and what plans there are to protect such communities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/259", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Marquess of Lothian"} ], "uin" : "HL2148"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/93726", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/93726/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The assessment of the threat to the UK from international terrorism is made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). JTAC assessments are made independently of Ministers.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) increased the UK national threat level from international terrorism to SEVERE (meaning that an attack is highly likely) on 26 August for the first time since 2011. This decision was related to developments in Iraq and Syria where groups including ISIL are planning attacks against the West. As the Prime Minister said on 26 September 2014, Official Report, column 1256, ISIL is a terrorist organisation unlike those we have dealt with before, and represents a direct threat to the British people. They have already murdered two British hostages, and are threatening the life of another. The first ISIL-inspired terrorist acts in Europe have already taken place.<\/p>
<\/p>
There is also a threat to British nationals and interests from ISIL and groups affiliated with ISIL or Al-Qaeda in Arab and African countries. Amongst these groups are Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, operating in the Sahel, and Boko Haram and Ansaru in Nigeria. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice gives our most accurate assessment of the threat from terrorism to British nationals overseas.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1091", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bates"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bates"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL2147"} , {"_value" : "HL2151"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-27T12:29:11.86888Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Terrorism"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what assessment they have made of the threat to the United Kingdom posed by Islamist military action in Nigeria.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/259", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Marquess of Lothian"} ], "uin" : "HL2150"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/93449", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/93449/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Information on ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) participation is published in Table 3 of a Statistical First Release (SFR):<\/p>
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