The Holocaust Memorial Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 4 September 2024. It is a government bill, introduced under the previous Conservative government and continued by the newly elected Labour government. It is sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
This short bill seeks to make provision for expenditure on the construction and operation of a Holocaust memorial and learning centre. It would also remove restrictions on building these in Victoria Tower Gardens, next to Parliament. While there has been cross-party support for the concept of a Holocaust memorial and learning centre, concerns have been raised relating to its location, design, cost and security measures in place to protect it. One demonstration of this is the 2021 legal challenge to the planning decision to build the memorial and learning centre in Victoria Tower Gardens.
The High Court subsequently decided to quash planning permission for a memorial and learning centre, citing restrictions in the London County Council (Improvements) Act 1900. These are the restrictions the bill seeks to remove. Should the bill pass, the planning decision to locate the memorial and learning centre in Victoria Tower Gardens would need to be retaken.
The bill is a hybrid bill, meaning it applies generally but also has a particular effect on specific groups, people or places. This entails additional stages for the bill. The bill was subject to a carry-over motion prior to the dissolution of the 2019–24 parliament, having completed all of its stages in the House of Commons. The bill is made up of two substantive clauses. It would extend to England and Wales, and apply to England. It would come into force two months after receiving royal assent.
