Question

To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Restoration and Renewal Client Board, how much from the public purse has been spent on (a) building survey works and (b) ground investigation works for works associated with the restoration and renewal project as of 31 March 2023.

The R&R Programme is carrying out tens of thousands of hours of complex building surveys and investigations to develop even more detailed records of the Palace of Westminster. These records are being used to inform design and planning, and future decisions on the essential restoration work required.

Two of the intrusive surveys currently being undertaken, the Building Intrusive Survey and Pull Out Tests, are categorised as Building Survey Works. Third party contractor costs incurred to 31 March 2023 on these surveys are £0.3 million. Third party contractor costs incurred to 31 March 2023 on the ground investigation works are £0.6 million.

These figures do not include Delivery Authority internal staffing costs or the costs of the contractor planning and overseeing the survey programme because those costs cannot be disaggregated by individual survey.

All these surveys are ongoing and spend will continue beyond 1 April 2023.