Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the analysis published by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum on 20 December suggesting that, despite the peace deal in Ethiopia, civilians are still at heightened risk of atrocities; and what steps they are taking to address these risks, including in accordance with their Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability assessment.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
During his visit to Ethiopia on 8 December, the Foreign Secretary welcomed the peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front and told Prime Minister Abiy that Ethiopia could rely on the UK's full support on its path to recovery and reconciliation. As the US Holocaust Memorial Museum blog points out the presence of Eritrean troops in Tigray and the increasing violence in Oromia is likely to lead to more atrocities against civilians. We urge the Eritrean Government to withdraw its troops in support of this peace agreement. We support the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) and urge all parties to work with the Commission to allow it to fulfil its mandate to support the process of accountability for those responsible, and welcome the commitment in the peace agreement to create a comprehensive national transitional justice policy.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the expected annual spend is of the (a) Building Safety Programme ACM Remediation, (b) Levelling Up Fund, (c) UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, (d) Planning Reform programme, (e) Grenfell Site and Programme, (f) Housing Infrastructure Fund, (g) Building Safety Programme - Non ACM Remediation, (h) Towns Fund, (i) Freeports programme, (j) Electoral Integrity programme in each of the financial years from 2022-23 until the end year of each programme or project, providing resource and capital spending.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The table below sets out the expected annual spend for each of the programmes listed:
Programme |
| Resource Budgets £m by financial year |
| Capital Budgets £m by financial year | ||||
| 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 |
| 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 | |
Building Safety Programme ACM Remediation |
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 58.6 | 9.4 | 0.0 |
Levelling Up Fund |
| 20.0 | 25.0 | 20.0 |
| 413.0 | 1,213.0 | 1,120.0 |
Planning Reform Programme |
| 10.9 | 50.4 | 69.3 |
| 0.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
Grenfell Site Management and Memorial Commission |
| 7.3 | 7.5 | 5.3 |
| 18.7 | 26.6 | 20.0 |
Housing Infrastructure Fund |
| 11.5 | 8.0 | 4.0 |
| 969.1 | 1,206.0 | 943.6 |
Building Safety Programme- Non ACM Remediation |
| 18.1 | 34.8 | 31.9 |
| 839.8 | 945.0 | 1,050.0 |
Towns Fund |
| 38.6 | 31.8 | 21.8 |
| 532.0 | 937.0 | 361.2 |
Freeports |
| 7.3 | 7.2 | 4.9 |
| 68.5 | 93.5 | 51.5 |
Electoral Integrity Programme |
| 16.0 | 40.0 | 40.0 |
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Expected costs for the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre will be published in due course in line with the Government Major Projects Portfolio reporting process.
The future years data covers the remainder of the SR period. These figures are indicative and may be revised as part of the normal business planning process. Several programmes extend beyond 2024/25 into future Spending Reviews and funding for the remaining years will be settled as part of future fiscal events.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date following the publication in September 2015 of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation briefing entitled Search for a Central London site did their Department become aware of the plan to site the memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
Responsibility for delivering the Government’s manifesto commitment to construct the UK Holocaust Memorial rests with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on what date following the publication in September 2015 of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation briefing entitled Search for a Central London site did their Department become aware of the plan to site the memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation member Lord Andrew Feldman wrote to the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon John Whittingdale, on 26 October 2015 proposing that the Holocaust Memorial be located in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Following investigations into the feasibility of this site, the Foundation recommended Victoria Tower Gardens to the Government in January 2016 as the best choice of site. The then Prime Minister accepted this recommendation and announced Victoria Tower Gardens as the chosen site on Holocaust Memorial Day 2016.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the potential merits of the proposal to site the National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre at Victoria Tower Gardens were compared with the potential merits of placing it with the Imperial War Museum; how the decision was taken; and if he will place the comparison in the Library.
Answered by Paul Scully
The UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation considered almost 50 locations for the Holocaust Memorial, including the Imperial War Museum, none of which were deemed to meet the published criteria. The Foundation subsequently suggested Victoria Tower Gardens as a potential location and following investigations into the feasibility of this site, recommended it to Government in January 2016 as the best choice of site. The then Prime Minister accepted this recommendation and announced Victoria Tower Gardens as the chosen site on Holocaust Memorial Day 2016.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on what date following the publication in September 2015 of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation briefing entitled Search for a Central London site did their Department become aware of the plan to site the memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Answered by Paul Scully
UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation member Lord Andrew Feldman wrote to the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon John Whittingdale, on 26 October 2015 proposing that the Holocaust Memorial be located in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Following investigations into the feasibility of this site, the Foundation recommended Victoria Tower Gardens to the Government in January 2016 as the best choice of site. The then Prime Minister accepted this recommendation and announced Victoria Tower Gardens as the chosen site on Holocaust Memorial Day 2016.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on what date following the publication of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation briefing entitled Search for a Central London site in September 2015, did their Department become aware of the plan to site the memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Answered by Paul Scully
UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation member Lord Andrew Feldman wrote to the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon John Whittingdale, on 26 October 2015 proposing that the Holocaust Memorial be located in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Following investigations into the feasibility of this site, the Foundation recommended Victoria Tower Gardens to the Government in January 2016 as the best choice of site. The then Prime Minister accepted this recommendation and announced Victoria Tower Gardens as the chosen site on Holocaust Memorial Day 2016.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date following the publication in September 2015 of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation briefing entitled Search for a Central London site did their Department become aware of the plan to site the memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Answered by Simon Clarke
Since 2015, HM Treasury has been working closely with Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to deliver on this Government’s manifesto commitment to construct the UK Holocaust Memorial.
Asked by: Peter Bottomley (Conservative - Worthing West)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, on what date following the publication in September 2015 of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation briefing entitled Search for a Central London site did their office become aware of the plan to site the memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Responsibility for delivering the Government’s manifesto commitment to construct the UK Holocaust Memorial rests with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 22 June (HL771), whether they will provide the information requested in FOI 17451012 about optimism bias in the costing of the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The estimated cost of the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre has been produced in line with Green Book guidance. The publication of further information about costs will be addressed when costs are no longer commercially sensitive.