PLANS TO STOP PARLIAMENT 'FALLING APART' ARE A MESS, MPs WARN, WITH NO DECISIONS TAKEN AFTER THREE YEARS

 The Independent 2 October 2020 - by Rob Merrick

Vital plans to stop Parliament “falling apart” are a shambles, MPs warn today, while running repairs cost taxpayers £100m a year.

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Work has yet to begin – almost three years after MPs voted to move out to enable it – with key decisions yet to be taken and a business case still two years away, they warn.

Meanwhile, the historic Palace of Westminster is afflicted by “failing mechanical and electrical systems, falling masonry and the constant risk of a catastrophic fire”.

“Parliament is literally falling apart,” said Meg Hillier, chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee. “It poses a very real risk to health and safety in its current state.”

Ms Hiller pointed to “nearly 20 years of discussion”, adding: “What we don’t need is for the authorities to keep reopening and reviewing what few decisions have been taken.

“We aren’t even promised a business case for the latest proposals until 2022 – that’s another £100m of maintenance away.

“We need rapid learning from comparable projects, clear vision, leadership and direction, now.”  

The criticism comes after Boris Johnson appeared to try to torpedo the January 2018 decision for MPs to move to a temporary home in Whitehall, from about 2025, for at least five years.

The prime minister wrote to the body overseeing the renovation plan, calling for it to look at “the full range of options” – including a move to York.

The body made clear it would be “inappropriate” to re-examine the plans to move up Whitehall, to behind Richmond House, which was a decision for Parliament.

However, many Conservative MPs oppose moving out – fearing it will be much longer than five years before they return, if ever – and progress has been delayed by the pandemic.

The restoration programme is anticipated to cost up to £6bn, although the bill would be far higher if work had to be carried out, more slowly, with MPs still at Westminster.

Now the PAC has urged the independent sponsor body to stop dragging its heels, demanding an update “within two months” on the key milestones ahead before work can begin.

“Every week of delay increases the risk to life and the integrity of the building and costs £2m,” the committee points out.

The report also highlights “examples where poor understanding of project requirements at the outset can lead to escalating costs”, pointing to the restoration of Big Ben, or Elizabeth Tower.

The £80m bill is “more than double the initial £29m estimate, partly as a result of parliamentary estate team’s lack of understanding of the work required at the outline business case”.