FOI - Passion Play (Oct 2023)

Copy of request:

“Please provide all information held by you relating to any consideration or any proposed or potential consideration of the general equality duty under section 149 of the 2010 Act in deciding to stage a Passion Play at Trafalgar Square and in deciding to stage the specific performance by the Wintershall Players on 7th April 2023.

We look forward to receiving your response by 27th October 2023 (within 20 working days of the date of this letter)”

Our response:

I can confirm that the GLA holds information within the scope of your request.

The information we located is listed and copied below:

Mayoral Decision MD2939 which is published on the GLA’s website (part 3 covers equality considerations)

The GLA Events Steering Group (GESG) Minutes dated December 2022 contain a minute related to the approval of the Passion Play including date and location. The extract is copied below and marked ‘approved in meeting’:

Passion of Jesus – [officer name redacted] 

Performance piece vent on good Friday – 7 April delivered by Wintershall charity. A theatrical interpretation of crucifixion of Christ. A 3000-5000 static audience.

The GLA Events Steering Group (GESG) Event Cover Form - Parts 4 & 6 refer to equalities considerations. The extracts are copied below:

Links to Mayoral priorities

1. Mayor’s Cultural Strategy "London Metropolis"
   Policy 2.2: "In partnership with local authorities and sector bodies, the Mayor's Events Team at the GLA is supporting high-quality festivals, campaigns and cultural events across London, both existing and new, developing and widening audiences and participation in the capital`. 
2. Mayor’s Equality Framework "Equal Life Chances for All" 
   Policy 4.6: "The Mayor will continue to directly support a number of festivals and cultural events in London, working with a wide range of partners, to ensure that both well-established but also new events take place across London, with activities intended to appeal to as many Londoners as possible.
3. Community Engagement Objective 1: "Engage with London's diverse communities to effectively inform, develop and deliver Mayoral strategies, priorities and programmes" With the opportunity to celebrate Christian culture publicly and within the high-profile setting of Trafalgar Square, we are able to fulfil on the Mayor's Equality Framework by "bringing different Londoners together to build strong inter-community relations and fosters mutual understanding".

Equality and Diversity Impact

1. The event is free to attend and welcoming of all no matter what background or religion.
2. In line with other religious groups that have activities on Trafalgar Square.

The names of members of staff (except senior staff) are exempt from disclosure under s.40 (Personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act. This information would identify specific employees and as such constitutes personal data which is defined by Article 4(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to mean any information relating to an identified or identifiable living individual. It is considered that disclosure of this information would contravene the first data protection principle under Article 5(1) of GDPR which states that Personal data must be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject.

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact me, quoting the reference MGLA031023-7612.

If you are unhappy with the way the GLA has handled your request, you may complain using the GLA’s FOI complaints and internal review procedure.