AS the country marked Holocaust Memorial Day last week, Welwyn Hatfield’s MP invited schools to send pupils to visit Auschwitz.

Jewish Grant Shapps acknowledged the memorial day on January 27, which marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, by signing a book of commitment at the House of Commons, in honour of those who died.

Mr Shapps, along with students from Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School, visited Auschwitz just after he was elected to represent the constituency and is keen for others to learn more.

He said: “In addition to signing the remembrance book, I’ve also written to every secondary school in Welwyn Hatfield inviting them to send two of their pupils to learn more about the Holocaust by visiting Auschwitz in Poland.

“When I was first elected as Welwyn Hatfield’s MP I was joined on a day trip to Auschwitz for a day that none of us will forget.

“The haunting images of that day stay with me as does the determination to continue to highlight the kind of bigotry that lies behind anti-Semitism and racism – some of which can be seen to this day.”

The school visits are organised throughout the year by the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Its chief executive, Karen Pollock, said: “As the number of survivors dwindles, remembering the Holocaust and passing on their testimony is more crucial than ever.”