Business of the House

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Excerpts

Thursday 31st October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

[Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (North Cotswolds) (Con)]

I know that you, Mr Speaker, take a close interest in the enormous restoration and renewal project in this House, which is estimated to cost at least £10 billion of anybody’s money—[Interruption.] At least. We are currently spending £2 million a week on maintenance in this place, a large chunk of which is taken up by the costs of preparing for restoration and renewal. I put it to the Leader of the House that we need to get on and make some decisions on this matter, because otherwise we face some catastrophic failure in one of our services in this House—a flood, a fire, or something. We have been talking about this since 2014, and it sets a bad example to the rest of Government if we cannot even manage our own affairs.

[Lucy Powell]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that issue. Mr Speaker and I discuss this matter regularly, and we share the concern about it, as do many others across the House. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that this building is in desperate need of investment and of restoration and renewal. He will be aware that three options for how we take the project forward will come to the House early next year, and I will play my full part in ensuring that we restore and renew this fantastic building.