LONDON (AP) A committee charged with stopping Britain’s creaky, leaky Parliament from falling down is set to say Thursday whether lawmakers will have to move out for several years so fix work can be done.
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A report from consultancy firm Deloitte a year ago set out three options for the renovation programme: removing both Houses of Parliament, relocating one of the Houses, and keeping both on site.
The report is the first to put forward a firm action plan for fix work at the palace which would involve safely moving large quantities of asbestos, replace an antiquated electric wiring system and also restore crumbling and frail stonework. Repairs would however take about 32 years and could cost taxpayers as much as £7.1 billion if they were undertaken while MPs and peers continued to sit in Parliament. Several outlets including the BBC reported that the committee is most likely to endorse the shortest option at a cost of 3.5 billion pounds ($4.7 billion).
“That is the lowest risk, most cost-effective and quickest option”, said committee member and opposition Labour lawmaker Chris Bryant.
“The Palace of Westminster, a masterpiece of Victorian and medieval architecture and engineering, faces an impending crisis which we can not responsibly ignore”, the report said.
Under their plans, building and fix work would begin in 2023 and last six years.
She added: “It is a hard sell, I absolutely accept that”. This is a big decision, it’s lots of money.
Tina Stowell, who co-leads the joint committee on the Palace of Westminster, said the restoration and fix works were essential.
“As such it is a vital part of our national heritage and it is important that this historic building is preserved, maintained and adapted for the needs of today and tomorrow for the nation as a whole”.
“We will need to look at the way forward in discussion with Parliament”.
The committee on restoration and renovation of the palace of Westminster has suggested that a “complete decant” of the palace for the duration of the repairs is the best option.
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Former Lords leader Lady Stowell said: “I expect the Government to take its lead from Parliament”. This would probably be a smart move, as it is basically right next to Portcullis House, a modern set of overflow offices from the main Parliament building which will be able to continue functioning as normal.
