Holocaust Memorial Bill debated in the Lords

The Victoria Tower photographed from Victoria Tower Gardens

Members of the House of Lords debated the key principles of the Holocaust Memorial Bill during second reading on Wednesday 4 September.

The Holocaust Memorial Bill will allow for the construction of a Holocaust memorial and learning centre. It would also remove restrictions on building these in Victoria Tower Gardens, next to Parliament.

The bill is a hybrid bill, meaning it affects the general public but also has a particular impact on specific groups, people or places. This entails additional stages for the bill.

Debate on the draft law

During second reading, members discussed the main topics of the bill and drew attention to concerns or specific areas where they think amendments (changes) will be needed.

Topics considered included:

the proposed site of the memorial next to the Houses of Parliament
use of public green spaces
increased costs associated with the memorial
Holocaust education.

Members speaking 

Lord Khan of Burnley (Labour), Lords Minister for Faith, Communities & Resettlement, opened the debate and responded on behalf of the government.

Contributing members included:

Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated), honorary president of Holocaust Learning UK
Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour), former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Arts
Lord Polak (Conservative), director of the Holocaust Memorial Charitable Trust
Lord Verdirame (Non Affiliated), professor, Dept of War Studies, King's College London.

Motion to regret

Members also considered a motion to regret the bill, put forward by Baroness Deech (Crossbench), on the grounds that the bill:

fails to allow for a full appraisal and consultation on any preferred site for a Holocaust memorial and learning centre
the government have failed to establish the true cost of the project or deal with issues of security around the memorial.

There was a division (vote) on the motion and it was not agreed to.