In a new report published today,
the Select Committee on the Holocaust Memorial Bill (Lords) has
set out details of the assurances and an official undertaking*
given by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and
Local Government, on the government's proposals to build a
Holocaust memorial and learning centre in Victoria Tower Gardens
in Westminster.
The cross-party committee, chaired by former senior judge and
Head of Civil Justice , was set up to hear evidence
and arguments from people who petitioned against the plans and
also on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Under the special procedures for this committee, their focus was
on the private interests affected, and not the general public
policy arguments around the memorial and learning centre or the
fundamental principle of the Bill, which was agreed by the House
of Lords at second reading.
Building on a report published by a committee of MPs in April
2024, this new report sets out assurances from the Secretary
of State that:
- Parliamentary authorities will be consulted about any
security considerations for the project and that these
representations will be put in the public domain.
- Restrictions on public access to Victoria Tower Gardens
during construction will be kept to a minimum, including for the
children's playground and;
- Step-free access to Victoria Tower Gardens will be maintained
via the Northern gate and for as much time as possible from the
Southern gate during construction.
The Committee further recommended that:
- A limit be placed on the length of time that Victoria Tower
Gardens can be closed to the public in one year in consequence of
events associated with the proposed Holocaust Memorial and
Learning Centre.
- That the Secretary of State gives serious consideration to
the amendments to the bill proposed by Lord Carlile, which asks
her to report to Parliament within 3 months after the bill has
passed, setting out the effects arising from construction,
including on security and traffic changes to the area. The
Secretary of State has already agreed to do this.
Chair of the Committee said:
“Successive governments have committed to building this important
memorial and learning centre dedicated to providing a place of
education and reflection for the public about the horrors of the
Holocaust. This report highlights some important concerns which
need to be addressed, including the need to keep Victoria Tower
Gardens as accessible as possible and communicating any security
implications for the project.
“We were grateful to the Secretary of State for her assurances on
these matters, and to the petitioners for raising such important
concerns with us in evidence. We look forward to further scrutiny
of the Bill in the wider House.”
Following this report, the Holocaust Memorial Bill (2023) returns
to the House of Lords for Committee stage and further stages in
due course.
ENDS
Notes to editors
-
Full report here
https://cdn.roxhillmedia.com/production/email/attachment/1680001_1690000/d4e5ef250f40cfc077429e7b9b47af5eb49f75ce.pdf
- *An "undertaking" is a commitment made by the promoters of a
hybrid (or private) bill to the committee appointed to consider
the bill and the petitions objecting to it. In the House of
Lords, any difference arising between the parties concerned about
the fulfilment of an undertaking is determined by the Senior
Deputy Speaker.
- The Holocaust Memorial Bill, first introduced in the Commons
in February 2023, would remove the current restriction that
Victoria Tower Gardens must remain as a garden open to the
public, thereby allowing the learning centre and memorial to be
built.
- A full list of petitioners and evidence can be found
here.
