Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme: Spending

Lord Fowler Excerpts

Tuesday 24th November 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

To ask the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body how much money is being spent on the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme per week; and what is it being spent on.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

My Lords, the spokesperson of the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body is the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Needham Market.

[Baroness Scott of Needham Market (LD) [V]]

My Lords, in accordance with the annual estimate agreed by the commissions of both Houses, weekly spend to date has been £1.8 million. The current spend includes thorough surveys to fully understand the condition of the Palace, gathering detailed data to help inform the design options, and the scoping and costing of those options.

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Scott of Needham Market (LD) [V]]

I can only agree with the points made by the noble Lord. There are not only significant maintenance costs involved on an ongoing basis, but significant risk of fire, risk from asbestos, risk from falling masonry and, most significantly, risk of a total collapse of the mechanical and engineering systems.

[The Lord Speaker (Lord Fowler)]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has elapsed.