Monday, lunch with Fareed Ahmad to discuss incitement to religious hatred, and the difficulty of proving intent. There has been only one prosecution for the offence since it was added to the Public Order Act in 2006, see Oct 26, 2009 : Column 16W. Yet manifestly there are lots of statements, written and verbal, which in ordinary usage one would say qualify for the description. Should Parliament consider tightening the wording?

Afternoon, a visit from the distinguished Samaritan Benny Tsedaka and his English helper Felicity.

Tuesday morning, attended a meeting of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group with visiting members of the Mexican National Security Commission.

Early evening, to the Society of Antiquaries for the launch of Jim Leary and David Field's The Story of Silbury Hill, an excellent and well illustrated summary of what's known about the history and archaeology of the monument.

Wednesday, Ursula to Mitagessen, after far too long a gap.

Thursday, chaired the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Educational Stakeholder Group meeting at the Department of Education. In the evening, to St Bartholomew's Church for the finals of the Bach Prize, awarded by the London Bach Society. All four contestants sang arias and recitatives from the Passions and Cantatas, with the Steinitz Bach Players. See www.bachlive.co.uk. Sarah Power, the winner, sang one of my all-time favourites Zerfliesse, mein Herze..I wonder if it would be possible to put a few bars of the finalists' wonderful performances on YouTube. Must ask Margaret.

Friday morning, to the ACERT conference at Friends Meeting House, where much was said about the uncertainty created by the Coalition Government in tearing up the policies of the last administration and leaving a vacuum.