The government will continue to help Holocaust survivors seeking restitution for property taken during and after the Holocaust, a leading minister has said.

In a letter sent last week to the Board of Deputies and the World Jewish Restitution Organisation (WJRO), Foreign Office minister Baroness Anelay reaffirmed the UK’s pledge to support “victims in countries such as Poland and beyond” – as stated in the 2009 Terezin Declaration, which was also signed by 46 other countries.

She said: “This government attaches great significance to supporting the families tragically affected by the Holocaust – including on the important issue of property restitution”.

She added that “a key part of Sir Eric Pickles’ mandate is to try to achieve progress on post-Holocaust property restitution with countries such as Poland.”
Baroness Anelay was writing in response to a letter sent to her last month by Board chief executive Gillian Merron and WJRO chair Gideon Taylor, calling on the British government to redouble its efforts for Holocaust restitution.