Holocaust Memorial Act 2026

This is a hybrid bill: a public bill presented to Parliament by the Government, to which private business standing orders apply.

The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and given its First Reading on 23 February 2023. This stage is formal and takes place without any debate.

Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills

The Bill was referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills to decide whether or not private business standing orders applied to the Bill (Standing Order No. 61).

The Examiners reported on 18 May 2023 that the bill should be proceeded with as a hybrid bill and that certain Standing Orders relating to private business which were applicable to the Bill had not been complied with. See the report from the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills here.

Standing Orders Committees

The Examiners’ report was referred to the House of Commons Standing Orders Committee (a committee of MPs, including the Deputy Speakers).

The Standing Orders Committees of both Houses are charged with deciding whether or not to dispense with any Standing Order which the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills consider has not been complied with.

On 13 June 2023, the House of Commons Standing Orders Committee resolved that Standing Orders 4, 4A, 11, 38 and 39 relating to private business ought to be dispensed with, and that Standing Order 10 relating to private business ought to be dispensed with subject to conditions.

On 13 June 2023, the House of Lords referred the Examiners’ Certificate to the House of Lords Standing Orders Committee (a committee of Peers, including the Senior Deputy Speaker). The Committee met on 19 June 2023 and dispensed with the Standing Orders.

Second Reading and Petitioning Period

The Bill received Second Reading in the House of Commons on 28 June 2023 and was committed to a Select Committee. The Committee considered any relevant petitions submitted within the petitioning period which began on 28 June until 24 July 2023 and 10 petitions were received.

House of Commons Select Committee

The Select Committee received an Instruction from the House of Commons on 28 June 2023 and began hearing evidence on 10 January 2024. The Committee published a Special Report on 26 April 2024.

Remaining Stages

Following the Select Committee, the Bill completed its public bill stages (Committee of the whole House and Third Reading) on 22 May 2024. The Bill was then sent to the House of Lords.

House of Lords Introduction and Petitioning Period

The Bill was introduced to the House of Lords on 23 May 2024. The petitioning period ran from 24 May until 17 July 2024 (having been extended from 21 June because of the dissolution of Parliament). 18 petitions were received.

Carry-over

Carry-over motions were agreed in both Houses; in the House of Lords on 23 October 2023 and in the House of Commons on 28 June 2023 and 22 May 2024. The motions allowed the Bill to continue its progress in the next Parliament. Following the 2024 General Election, the Bill was reintroduced in the House of Commons on 18 July 2024 and, having been deemed to have passed all stages it had completed in the previous Session (in accordance with the carry-over motion), was sent to the House of Lords on the same day.

Second House Examination

The Bill was referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills. The Examination was held on 25 July 2024 and the Examiner found that no further standing orders were applicable to the Bill.

Second reading 

The Bill received Second Reading in the House of Lords on 4 September 2024 and was committed to a Select Committee.

Select Committee

The Bill was referred to a Select Committee that considered any the 18 petitions that were submitted against the Bill. The Select Committee reported the Bill, without amendments, on Wednesday 15 January 2025 and published a Special Report.

Report stage

A chance to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes took place during report stage on 11 June.

Third reading

Third reading - a final chance to amend the bill – took place on 17 June.

Ping Pong (Commons)

Commons consideration of Lords amendments took place on Tuesday 20 January 2026.

Ping Pong (Commons)

Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the bill it received Royal Assent on 22 January. The bill is now an Act of Parliament (law).

In a new report published today, the Select Committee on the Holocaust Memorial Bill (Lords) has set out details of the assurances and an official undertaking1 given by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on the government’s proposals to build a Holocaust memorial and learning centre in Victoria Tower Gardens in Westminster. 

The cross-party committee, chaired by former senior judge and Head of Civil Justice Lord Etherton, was set up to hear evidence and arguments from people who petitioned against the plans and also on behalf of the Secretary of State.   

Under the special procedures for this committee, their focus was on the private interests affected, and not the general public policy arguments around the memorial and learning centre or the fundamental principle of the Bill, which was agreed by the House of Lords at second reading. 

Building on a report published by a committee of MPs in April 2024, this new report sets out assurances from the Secretary of State that: 

• Parliamentary authorities will be consulted about any security considerations for the project and that these representations will be put in the public domain.  
• Restrictions on public access to Victoria Tower Gardens during construction will be kept to a minimum, including for the children’s playground and; 
• Step-free access to Victoria Tower Gardens will be maintained via the Northern gate and for as much time as possible from the Southern gate during construction.  

The Committee further recommended that: 

• A limit be placed on the length of time that Victoria Tower Gardens can be closed to the public in one year in consequence of events associated with the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.  
• That the Secretary of State gives serious consideration to the amendments to the bill proposed by Lord Carlile, which asks her to report to Parliament within 3 months after the bill has passed, setting out the effects arising from construction, including on security and traffic changes to the area. The Secretary of State has already agreed to do this.  

Chair of the Committee Lord Etherton said:  

“Successive governments have committed to building this important memorial and learning centre dedicated to providing a place of education and reflection for the public about the horrors of the Holocaust. This report highlights some important concerns which need to be addressed, including the need to keep Victoria Tower Gardens as accessible as possible and communicating any security implications for the project.  

 “We were grateful to the Secretary of State for her assurances on these matters, and to the petitioners for raising such important concerns with us in evidence. We look forward to further scrutiny of the Bill in the wider House.” 

Following this report, the Holocaust Memorial Bill (2023) returns to the House of Lords for Committee stage and further stages in due course.

A full list of petitioners and evidence can be found here. 

Tuesday 21 January 2025