Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment he has made of the installation of the telephone system on the parliamentary estate; and what procurement lessons have been learned for the Restoration and Renewal Programme with regard to (1) cost, (2) ratio of possible to actual users, (3) consultation and involvement of users, (4) unnecessary capabilities and specifications, and (5) efficiency for its primary purpose.

There have been several recent incidents with desk-based handsets. These incidents have had protracted resolution times and the Parliamentary Digital Service (PDS) is dependent on third parties, including Microsoft, to identify and fix the root cause.

The need to improve voice services has been identified and PDS is working closely with relevant service providers to resolve these issues. In improving telephony services as part of the ‘Voice Programme’, members will be engaged through user groups to ensure needs and requirements are met.

PDS has a robust lessons learned process that is well-embedded and the Voice Programme is procuring a new telephony solution to support communication services in Parliament using a Crown Commercial Services framework with a focus on increasing quality, efficiency and value.

This work will not be left to the Restoration and Renewal Programme – both because the timescales for implementation would be too long, and because the implementation of telephony is not completely tied to the fabric of the building.

The two Houses agreed a new approach to the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster, as agreed in the resolution passed by the House on 13 July [HL deb. Col. 1497]. All proposals for the restoration works will require parliamentary approval, as set out in section 7 of the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019.