Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker when will (1) the scaffolding be removed from, and (2) the refurbishment be completed of, the Elizabeth Tower.

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Finance Committee, to respond on his behalf.

Scaffolding was removed around the roof level of the Elizabeth Tower in October 2020. More scaffolding is expected to be removed towards the end of this year and continuing into 2022.

Covid-19 has restricted the progress of the refurbishment. The completion date will be later than the planned 2021 date, and is now expected in 2022. Further information on the revised completion date will be announced once the schedule of works is finalised.

The original outline business case for the Elizabeth Tower assessed the costs at £29.7m. In 2017, the final business case for the Elizabeth Tower was approved at a value of £61m, subsequently revised in February 2020 to £79.7m. The additional costs due to the impact of COVID-19 are currently being assessed.