Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body

(asked on 18th January 2023) - View Source

Question

To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board, what the cost to the public purse was of transferring the functions of the external statutory Restoration and Renewal Sponsor Body to an in-house service, including replacing the Board.


Answered by
Charles Walker Portrait
Charles Walker
This question was answered on 23rd January 2023

The Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body was abolished on 1 January 2023 and its staff transferred into a new joint department in Parliament, the Restoration and Renewal Client Team. Replacing the Sponsor Board will be two new Boards—the R&R Client Board, comprising the membership of the two House Commissions, and the R&R Programme Board, which is currently in the process of being established.

The costs of these changes thus far have been primarily absorbed within the existing budgets of the two Houses and the Sponsor Body.

The following items are costs that would not have been incurred had it not been for the transfer of functions:

  • The House Commissions sought advice and assurance about the proposed changes from a high-level panel of independent experts with significant experience in major programmes, in both the public and private sector. The work of the independent advice and assurance panel cost £57,557.

  • A recruitment company provided an executive search service to support the House of Commons with recruiting up to four external R&R Programme Board members. This included sourcing appropriate candidates, making initial contact with them, and supporting the House through the entire recruitment process. The cost was £67,000.

  • A contractor was employed to assist with programme management for the transition at a cost of £97,853 (including VAT).
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