Delays to Parliament repairs cost taxpayer £2m a week

The public accounts committee has warned that the continued delays to Parliament repairs will cost an additional £100m in maintenance alone

A report by the public accounts committee warns that 20 years of debate about the significant works needed to repair Parliament’s “failing mechanical and electrical systems, falling masonry and the constant risk of a catastrophic fire” have left the taxpayer with £2m a week in costs.

The £2m a week in costs are needed for the round-the-clock remedial work to keep the building safe.

None of the ‘Restoration and Renewal Programme’ work has yet begun, key decisions about alternative accommodation while the work is done have yet to be taken, says the committee.

The business case to take the work forward is still almost two years away.

In January 2018, the Parliament repairs programme was approved and considered “wider objectives” such as improving accessibility and providing educational facilities.

However, the Sponsor Body responsible for overseeing the programme has only just been established – and in its report, the public accounts committee expresses concern that its decision to commission a formal review will reopen previous decisions and cause further delay.

‘Rapid learning from comparable projects’

Meg Hillier, chair of the public accounts committee, said: “Parliament is literally falling apart around the thousands of people who work there and the million or so who, in better times, visit every year.

“It poses a very real risk to health and safety in its current state.

“The restrictions of the pandemic may provide an opportunity in this context and it’s time for those responsible to get creative and get to work.

“After nearly 20 years of discussion and costs to the taxpayer of just maintaining Parliament now rising by £2m a week, what we don’t need is for the authorities to keep reopening and reviewing what few decisions have been taken.

“We aren’t even promised a business case for the latest proposals until 2022 – that’s another £100m of maintenance away.

“We need rapid learning from comparable projects, clear vision, leadership and direction, now.

“The cost of the project will be high but doing nothing is not an option and is certainly not a cost-free option. Without action we are just ratcheting up the bill to the taxpayer.”