Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Smith and Olly Glover

Thursday 27th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)]

12. What steps the client board is taking to engage with parliamentary staff on the restoration of the Palace of Westminster.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)]

The restoration and renewal programme has engaged extensively with staff of both Houses. There is a legal duty to do so under the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019. In the past two years alone, the programme has held over 420 workshops with parliamentary subject experts, engaged over 1,200 staff in group briefings, and taken over 700 staff members on R&R tours of the palace. That includes staff who work for Members, in addition to those who work for both Houses. Enabling staff to engage is vital, and the programme team will continue to ensure that there are opportunities to do so.

[Olly Glover]

I thank the hon. Member for his answer. As he says, there are 7,000 staff working here who support 650 Members of this House and 836 in the other place. As he recognises, it is essential that the needs, wisdom and experience of the people who make the estate a success are heard and fully considered. Will he commit to continuing to run that full consultation and maximising efforts to do so in a way that will ensure the strongest attendance and the best engagement?

[Nick Smith]

The hon. Member makes an important point: the whole Westminster village needs to be engaged in this important topic, which affects all of our workplace.