Question

To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the budget is for work in Portcullis House on (a) mechanical and electrical systems, (b) the roof, (c) committee rooms, (d) AV upgrades, (e) atrium lighting and blinds and (f) refurbishment of lifts.

The budget for work in Portcullis House can be broken down as follows:

(a) mechanical and electrical systems

The latest business case for the lifecycle replacement of mechanical and electrical systems within Portcullis House presented a total project cost ranging between £129m and £143m. The project will undertake a series of lifecycle replacement works to mechanical and electrical systems within PCH, including, for example, systems linked to heating, cooling and ventilation. The scope also includes some works related to the Engineering Infrastructure Strategy which will provide benefits to the wider Northern Estate.

(b) the roof

The roof project is at the feasibility stage, investigating the defects within the glazed panel roof and the main roof. Following the investigation, options will be developed to address the findings. The project report is due mid-2023, the costs for these options are not known at this stage.

(c) committee rooms

As part of a larger Committee room project, four rooms in Portcullis House are being upgraded:

(i) Refurbishment of in-room ICT/AV infrastructure and furniture (including adaptations to furniture to accommodate new technology)

(ii) Refurbishment of staff table in the Grimond Room (ICT/AV and other furniture upgraded by previous project)

Grimond Room £5,500

The total budget for Portcullis House is £1,455,000.

(d) AV upgrade

A new bicameral audio-visual/video-conferencing facility is being implemented for all mainstream select committee rooms (the Centralised Video-Conferencing Facility (CVCF)) to provide and manage hybrid committee meetings for broadcast. It is not possible to apportion this cost by room or building. The total budget for this is £1,884,000 across both Houses.

(e) atrium lighting and blinds

25 luminaires within PCH atrium are being replaced with a budget of £57k.

There are no blinds in PCH atrium, however there is a project to replace the motors in the blinds across PCH and the cost for this is £401k.

(f) refurbishment of lifts.

The refurbishment of lifts within Portcullis House is being undertaken in 3 Stages, as part of an estate-wide programme of lift modernisation works.

Three lifts within Portcullis House (HOPs 107, 108 and 161) have been refurbished to date under Stages 1 and 2 of this programme, with a combined total budget of £1.96m.

A further five lifts within Portcullis House (HOPs 101, 102, 105, 106 and 175) are due to be refurbished under Stage 3 of this programme, with an estimated budget of £4.00m subject to final business case approval.