UNESCO: Westminster World Heritage Site

Lord Steel of Aikwood Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Jolly]

I take the noble Lord’s point. However, UNESCO has not warned us of a possible delisting of the Palace. It has asked that the state of conservation report for the site be submitted by 1 February. The Government have carefully considered UNESCO’s request not to approve the scheme but concluded that the level of harm to the world heritage site would be substantially less than that suggested by UNESCO.

[Lord Steel of Aikwood (LD)]

My Lords, further to the question asked opposite, would my noble friend agree that a great threat to the Palace of Westminster is the constant reports that we read in the papers that the place is falling down about our ears? Will she undertake that in the new Parliament we will definitely get a definitive report on the state of the building so that both Houses can consider it?

[Baroness Jolly]

I can indeed. The next Government are expected to confirm a decision in spring 2016 as to the Palace of Westminster and conservation.