Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis they appointed the consultancy Big Ideas to increase public engagement with the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre planning application; what specific remit they gave Big Ideas in undertaking that work; and how much they expect to pay Big Ideas for those services.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Big Ideas is a community interest company specialising in community engagement and commemoration. We are providing £118,000 funding to encourage local and national conversations on the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. This work has included engaging with mother and toddler groups, schools, and clubs for the elderly alongside national engagement with survivors, youth and civic organisations. Portal engagement is only one facet of Big Ideas work.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the exact wording of the questions asked by Big Ideas when seeking the views of members of the public about the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
With the consent of Westminster City Council, Big Ideas places on the Council’s planning portal both objections and supportive comments relating to the proposed Holocaust Memorial and learning Centre. Big Ideas acts in an open and transparent way. The exact wording of the questions asked is and has always been, since their engagement, in the public domain. They can be viewed here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdO4Ua3NaO6Ge3593pb7vOcaQ7htIFPDvpSEokF5A-eY5IDkA/viewform
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what methodology was used by Big Ideas to select participants in their consultation on the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Big Ideas were asked to encourage debate on the importance of a national Memorial to the Holocaust. This work has included engaging with mother and toddler groups, schools, and clubs for the elderly alongside national engagement with survivors, youth and civic organisations.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of respondents to Big Ideas' consultation on the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre were (1) resident, and (2) working in Westminster; and, in assessing public views on the planning application for that Centre, what assessment they have made of the relative weight that should be given to the views of (a) local people, and (b) other people whose lives would not be directly affected by that development.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
This is a matter for Westminster City Council to decide.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the accusation of the Save Victoria Tower Gardens Campaign that they employed Big Ideas to "rig" their own planning application for a UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Big Ideas is being funded to encourage local and national conversations on the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. The planning decision sits with Westminster Council.