Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board, what assessment the Client Board has made of the potential impact of government regulations on the projected costs of the Restoration and Renewal of Parliament; and whether it has had discussions with the Building Safety Regulator on Restoration and Renewal.

The Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Client Board’s recent report, Delivering restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: the costed proposals (HC Paper 1576) sets out a recommended way forward for the R&R Programme, including the scope of the works and cost and timing estimates of different delivery options.

Design work for the R&R works was carried out to meet the requirements set out by the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 and a range of relevant UK regulations regarding building standards, health and safety, and consents. The outcome level assessment conducted by the R&R Programme Board also made specific reference to regulations and standards. A separate assessment of “the potential impact of government regulations” on the projected costs set out the R&R Client Board’s report has not been undertaken.

Officials from Parliament’s R&R Client Team have engaged recently with the Chair of the Building Safety Regulator. The R&R Delivery Authority plans engagement with the Building Safety Regulator and the Health and Safety Executive at the next stage of design.