Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 15 May (HL15445), whether the proposed siting of the new Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens would increase the threat level around Parliament compared to its current usage as a park and children's playground.

I refer to my response to my noble friend on 5th February (HL1427), that the Government provide a wide range of advice and guidance to the public about threats and how they can be mitigated. It is a matter for the owners and operators of crowded places to consider this advice and take forward appropriate security measures.

The Metropolitan Police Service CTSA security assessment for the proposed Holocaust memorial would have assessed the future use of that part of Victoria Tower Gardens as a Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.

Parliamentary security is a separate matter dealt with by the House Parliamentary security department.