Recommendations & Conclusions
22 items
4
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The Commissions have asked for further options to be explored but is unclear how the higher costs, greater duration and added risks, including extraordinary health and safety risks, of a continued presence during the building works can be managed. The Delivery Authority told us in March that although it is …
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The Commissions have asked for further options to be explored but is unclear how the higher costs, greater duration and added risks, including extraordinary health and safety risks, of a continued presence during the building works can be managed. The Delivery Authority told us in March that although it is technically possible to plan for options involving some element of continued presence, this would lead to higher costs, take an enormously longer time (an extra 15 to 48 years), and create extraordinary health and safety risks. It may also require changes to the way Parliament operates. Initial work found Parliament operating alongside a construction site would lead to potentially unacceptable disruption, noise and fire risk. It would also increase the potential for exposure to airborne asbestos which will require extensive works to remove. The Delivery Authority is currently letting the contracts for intrusive surveys, having undertaken initial investigations. The House of Commons Trade Union believes that “the ongoing viability of the Palace of Westminster as a safe workplace is at stake and … anything less than the full decant envisaged under the Act would put that at risk”. When asked, the Clerks could not clearly answer if they could manage the risks to users of the building should the House of Commons maintain a presence in the Palace during the works. The Clerk of the House of Commons recognises there will need to be a full decant for some time at least. Recommendation: The Clerks should set out the threshold of risk they are willing to accept during the works and report back on this level of risk, the trade-offs they feel are possible and how this impacts the potential approach to work. The Delivery Authority should progress the intrusive surveys during the summer to determine what the asbestos removal plan should be, including whether it is safe to remain in the Palace whilst these works take place.
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Government response AI summary
The Clerks agreed with the recommendation to set out the threshold of risk they are willing to accept, stating that risk management processes are already in place, and the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority accepted the recommendation to progress the intrusive surveys, stating that they …
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HM Treasury
5
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
To date, there has been a failure of transparency and accountability over work to restore and renew the Palace. This includes: the House administrations being three months late sharing, in line with expected standards, information on a recent asbestos incident with those impacted; the Sponsor Body choosing not to consult …
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To date, there has been a failure of transparency and accountability over work to restore and renew the Palace. This includes: the House administrations being three months late sharing, in line with expected standards, information on a recent asbestos incident with those impacted; the Sponsor Body choosing not to consult the domestic committees within Parliament; and Parliament not being clearly informed of the Sponsor Body’s CEO’s resignation. Our work across major programmes has illustrated the importance of establishing the right culture for transparency. The House of Commons Commission decided to propose dissolving the Sponsor Body directly after considering early cost and schedule information prepared by the Sponsor Body (which it found concerning). Unless the justification for this decision is now made clear, it could set a damaging ‘good news culture’. 8 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament Recommendations: To maintain effective transparency over the Programme: • Measures should be put in place by the Programme’s Accounting Officers to ensure the programme sponsor reports regularly to Parliament on progress, including information on the potential costs and risks estimates and any associated uncertainties. • The Commissions of both Houses should publish and place in their respective Libraries all minutes and advice documents supporting decisions relating to the programme, as well as the interdependent and wider works across the Parliamentary Estate. • The Delivery Authority should include engagement with parliamentary domestic committees as a critical stage in any future timetables. • Urgently, and at the latest before works commence, the Clerks of both Houses should review and improve processes to guarantee health and safety incidents are reported as soon as possible to those accountable for safety and those potentially affected by incidents. • The Government must be clearly engaged with the overall strategy and costs of the entire R&R project.
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree with the Committee’s recommendation to ensure transparency over the Programme, stating that the revised safety escalation protocols were implemented on 6 April 2022 and will be reviewed. They have reviewed and updated the …
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HM Treasury
7
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The Clerk of the House told us that every year the restoration and renewal of the Palace is delayed adds risk and cost such as through nugatory spending.18 In 2014, an independent assessment found delays to the decision may add between £60 million and £85 million per year (in 2014 …
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The Clerk of the House told us that every year the restoration and renewal of the Palace is delayed adds risk and cost such as through nugatory spending.18 In 2014, an independent assessment found delays to the decision may add between £60 million and £85 million per year (in 2014 prices) to the capital costs in additional tender price inflation.19 He explained that the House administrations have undertaken works to mitigate health and safety risks, including spending around £140 million on temporary fire safety improvements and around £8 million on temporary sewerage. They have also started repairs to the outside of the Victoria Tower.20 The Clerk of the Parliaments told 11 Joint statement from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 18 March 2022 12 HC1100 Q 88; HC49 Q 27 13 HC49 Qq 27–28 14 Joint report from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 14 June 2022 15 C&AG’s Report, paras 7, 9, 3.10 and Figure 4 16 HC1100 Q 135; HC49 Q 45 17 Main Estimate Memorandum: Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body, page 2 18 HC1100 Qq 110, 153, 214 19 HC1100Q 162; Deloitte, Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme Independent Options Appraisal, 8 September 2014, section 1.9 20 HC1100 Qq 110, 153, 214 12 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament us that, even prior to the statement of the Joint Commission, all internal works had been subject to an “R&R test” to determine whether they would become nugatory under the restoration and renewal plans.21
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Government response AI summary
The Accounting Officers agree with the committee's finding, stating that processes are already in place within Parliament and the R&R bodies to avoid nugatory spend and ensure value for money, with the Sponsor Body committed to ongoing scrutiny of costs.
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HM Treasury
9
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
In May 2022, the Clerk of the House of Commons told us that this period of uncertainty was “highly corrosive and damaging” for retaining the vital expertise needed to develop the Programme.24 This echoed the Delivery Authority’s comments to us in March, that there was a significant risk it would …
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In May 2022, the Clerk of the House of Commons told us that this period of uncertainty was “highly corrosive and damaging” for retaining the vital expertise needed to develop the Programme.24 This echoed the Delivery Authority’s comments to us in March, that there was a significant risk it would lose the expertise, capability and skills built up over the last 18 months. This includes those working within the organisations and contractors who have worked on the programme for an extended period and built-up expertise of the Palace’s unique challenges.25 Since May 2020, both the Sponsor Body and the Delivery Authority have expanded with staff increases of 40% and 74% respectively, which includes a fall in the number of interim staff used.26
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Government response AI summary
The Clerks commit to implementing the recommendation by ensuring the Delivery Authority remains in place, assessing capability gaps within the sponsor function by the end of summer recess, developing TUPE proposals to retain staff, and establishing a skilled Programme Board as part of a new …
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HM Treasury
12
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The Commissions intend to put indicative resolutions based on this report to Members and Peers before the summer 2022 recess. The Clerk of the House explained that formalising the Commissions’ proposal would require the Leader of the House of Commons to lay an affirmative instrument before both Houses to be …
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The Commissions intend to put indicative resolutions based on this report to Members and Peers before the summer 2022 recess. The Clerk of the House explained that formalising the Commissions’ proposal would require the Leader of the House of Commons to lay an affirmative instrument before both Houses to be debated.33 The Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 requires the Leader of the House of Lords to agree for the instrument to be laid and certain parties, including both Clerks and both Commissions, to be informed.34
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments commit to implement this recommendation, where it is within their powers to do so, aiming to meet the Commissions’ timeframe for drafting the necessary regulations in autumn 2022.
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HM Treasury
13
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The Sponsor Body told us it has not estimated the costs associated with dissolving itself, which will depend on what the changes to the governance arrangements and proposed work look like. Depending on their grade, its staff have notice periods of between three and 12 months.35 The independent expert review …
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The Sponsor Body told us it has not estimated the costs associated with dissolving itself, which will depend on what the changes to the governance arrangements and proposed work look like. Depending on their grade, its staff have notice periods of between three and 12 months.35 The independent expert review reported that making structural changes to major programmes, such as revising governance, often introduced new risks. Care needed to be taken to avoid decisions simply compounding issues that already existed.36 Changing the Programme’s governance
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Government response AI summary
The Accounting Officers agree with the Committee’s recommendation. There are already processes in place within Parliament, the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority to avoid nugatory spend when making investment decisions.
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HM Treasury
16
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The Clerk of the House of Commons explained that the technical capacity needed to take on the Sponsor Body’s role was well beyond anything within the House administrations’ in-house resource. He suggested there will need to be a professional client function with the same mix of professional skills as the …
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The Clerk of the House of Commons explained that the technical capacity needed to take on the Sponsor Body’s role was well beyond anything within the House administrations’ in-house resource. He suggested there will need to be a professional client function with the same mix of professional skills as the Sponsor Body’s current team.40 We heard that the House administrations were not resourced to take on the Sponsor Body’s role, which included overseeing the Delivery Authority’s performance and providing Programme sponsorship.41 33 HC49 Q 28 34 HC1100 Q 88 35 HC1100 Qq 47, 159 36 Joint report from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 14 June 2022 37 House of Commons Commission, Decisions, 1 February 2022 38 House of Lords Commission, Minutes, 8 February 2022 39 Joint report from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 14 June 2022 40 HC1100 Qq 96–97 41 HC1100 Q 96 14 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments commit to ensuring the new Client Team has the right skills and expertise, assessing capability and capacity gaps within the sponsor function, and applying TUPE legislation to mitigate the risk of losing staff.
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HM Treasury
17
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
In terms of the Clerks’ role, Members of both Houses value their expertise in terms of procedural knowledge, but they may not have the requisite skills to oversee the delivery function (the Delivery Authority) in a complex programme with multiple interdependences. There is no evidence that the Clerk of the …
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In terms of the Clerks’ role, Members of both Houses value their expertise in terms of procedural knowledge, but they may not have the requisite skills to oversee the delivery function (the Delivery Authority) in a complex programme with multiple interdependences. There is no evidence that the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments have either the expertise or the capacity to successfully oversee such a large and complicated infrastructure project. The Clerk of the House described it as, in cost terms, sitting “somewhere between the London Olympics and Crossrail”. When asked, the Clerks could not set out how they would manage these responsibilities alongside their full-time roles.42
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments commit to implement this recommendation, and the Delivery Authority will remain in place and independent. An interim CEO will assess capability and capacity gaps within the sponsor function.
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HM Treasury
18
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
We questioned the Clerk of the House of Commons on the House administration’s performance managing similar programmes. The expected cost of the Elizabeth Tower refurbishment has roughly tripled, from £29 million set out in the outline business case in 2016 to £80 million in the revised business case approved in …
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We questioned the Clerk of the House of Commons on the House administration’s performance managing similar programmes. The expected cost of the Elizabeth Tower refurbishment has roughly tripled, from £29 million set out in the outline business case in 2016 to £80 million in the revised business case approved in 2020. The Clerk of the House acknowledged that initial cost forecasting of the Elizabeth Tower in 2016 was deficient, citing reasons including that the project did not do intrusive surveys and that the project did not have a dedicated team.43 The Northern Estate Programme was closed, with £70 million written off, without a new plan in place for how to decant the House of Commons.44 Also, House officials previously managed the construction of Portcullis House, opened in September 2000. This committee found that although aspects of the project were managed well, the final cost was 18% higher than the original budget and statutory procurement rules were not followed when letting the contract for the building’s fenestration. This resulted in legal fees and damages payable by the House of almost £10 million.45
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Government response AI summary
The Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority accept the recommendation, stating that intrusive surveys are planned to commence in July 2022 and continue over several years. These surveys aim to provide crucial structural and asbestos information to inform future decisions on the Restoration and Renewal programme …
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HM Treasury
19
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
We also questioned the House administrations’ protocols on how they to responded to safety incidents during works.46 On 19 November 2021, contractors working in the Speaker’s private apartments identified a release of asbestos between 23 October and 27 October 2021.47 We heard that, although the site was immediately closed when …
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We also questioned the House administrations’ protocols on how they to responded to safety incidents during works.46 On 19 November 2021, contractors working in the Speaker’s private apartments identified a release of asbestos between 23 October and 27 October 2021.47 We heard that, although the site was immediately closed when the incident was identified and staff directly working on the site were informed, staff who may have come into contact with asbestos were not informed until February 2022.48 The Clerk of the House of Commons became aware of the incident on 10 December 2021 but told us it then appeared less serious with indications three staff were potentially affected. The House administrations now believe this to be 117 staff.49
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree with the Committee’s recommendation, noting that the revised safety escalation protocols were implemented on 6 April 2022 and will be reviewed in October 2022, with annual reviews thereafter.
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HM Treasury
20
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The Clerk of the House of Commons explained the House administrations stood down all works on the parliamentary estate on 9 February, in part to check whether the right protocols were in place and understood by the relevant staff.50 He told us that the handling of the incident was not …
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The Clerk of the House of Commons explained the House administrations stood down all works on the parliamentary estate on 9 February, in part to check whether the right protocols were in place and understood by the relevant staff.50 He told us that the handling of the incident was not a defensible position and that it should not have happened as it happened.51 42 HC49 Q 80–90 43 HC1100 Q 145; UK Parliament: Written answer, UIN 96953, 11 January 2022Letter from Dr John Benger, 29 March 2022 44 HC1100 Qq 138–139; C&AG’s Report, para 1.13 45 Public Accounts Committee, Construction of Portcullis House, the new Parliamentary building, Sixty-Third Report, Session 2001–02, HC 861, 24 July 2002 46 HC1100 Q 27 47 HC1100 Qq 2, 4 48 HC1100 Qq 5–6 49 HC 1100 Q10 50 HC1100 Qq 14, 27 51 HC1100 Q 15; HC49 Qq 1–5 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament 15
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree with the Committee’s conclusion, stating that the revised safety escalation protocols were implemented on 6 April 2022 and will be reviewed. They have reviewed and updated the existing safety escalation arrangements, implemented improved …
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HM Treasury
21
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The incident was formally reported to the Health and Safety Executive on 10 February 2022, with relevant trade unions informed on 15 February. The Clerk of the House of Commons acknowledged that the staff affected should have been contacted with greater urgency. The Clerk attributed the delay to disputes between …
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The incident was formally reported to the Health and Safety Executive on 10 February 2022, with relevant trade unions informed on 15 February. The Clerk of the House of Commons acknowledged that the staff affected should have been contacted with greater urgency. The Clerk attributed the delay to disputes between the House administration team and its contractor and subcontractor, for example on whether the incident crossed the threshold at which notification is required, and over who had a duty to report the incident.52 The Health and Safety Executive are investigating the incident. The Clerks committed to respond to the inquiry’s recommendations.53
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree with the Committee’s recommendation, and the revised safety escalation protocols were implemented on 6 April 2022 with a further review scheduled for October 2022 to ensure they remain fit for purpose.
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HM Treasury
24
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The Clerk of the House told us that he expected the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) to assure the arrangements but recognised that the IPA had no formal role over the Programme.60 Following our March evidence session, the Clerk clarified that the IPA will not be providing assurance over the …
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The Clerk of the House told us that he expected the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) to assure the arrangements but recognised that the IPA had no formal role over the Programme.60 Following our March evidence session, the Clerk clarified that the IPA will not be providing assurance over the proposed governance and approach to the works. Instead, in response to the Commissions’ request for independent advice in March 2022, a panel of “independent experts with experience of major infrastructure projects” has been established to provide assurance over both the new governance arrangements and the approach to the works.61 The Clerk of the House told us he was confident a report would be ready for the Joint Commission in the middle of June.62 The joint report was considered by the Commissions on 13 June 2022 and published on 14 June.63 52 HC1100 Qq 9–10 53 HC49 Q2 54 House of Commons Commission, Decisions, 1 February 2022 55 HC1100 Q 45 56 HC1100 Qq 85–87 57 HC1100 Q 119 58 HC1100 Qq 98, 102; HC49 Q 78 59 Joint report from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 14 June 2022, pg 23 60 HC1100 Qq 70–74; C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 61 Letter from Dr John Benger, 29 March 2022; HC49 Qq 77–78 62 HC49 Q 91 63 Joint report from the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions, 14 June 2022 16 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament 2 Approach to the Programme works Deciding the approach
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Government response AI summary
The Clerks broadly agree with the committee's observations and commit to ensuring future Independent Advice and Assurance Panels will continue to consist of independent experts, and that their outcomes will be published subject to Commission agreement.
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HM Treasury
25
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
When we reported on this Programme in October 2020, we found the Sponsor Body had not engaged sufficiently with Members, Peers, Officials, and staff to clarify how it would reconcile the range of individual views within Parliament. While the Sponsor Body should consider Members’ differing perspectives as much as is …
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When we reported on this Programme in October 2020, we found the Sponsor Body had not engaged sufficiently with Members, Peers, Officials, and staff to clarify how it would reconcile the range of individual views within Parliament. While the Sponsor Body should consider Members’ differing perspectives as much as is realistically possible, excessive political interference may muddy the waters, making progress more difficult. We reported that re-opening decisions risked delaying the Programme with increasing risks to personal safety, the Palace structure and taxpayer’s money.64 In January 2022 the NAO found that these risks remained.65
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Government response AI summary
The Clerks agree with the committee, proposing a new two-tier governance structure for the R&R Programme by the end of the calendar year, which aims to develop a single set of objectives and requirements by engaging the parliamentary community and providing oversight through Programme and …
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HM Treasury
27
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
On 18 March, the Commissions issued a joint statement setting out nine parameters to guide forthcoming decisions. This included considering further options to undertake work without decanting and looking at doing work over a shorter period. The statement reaffirmed the Commissions’ commitment to health and safety.69 The Clerk of the …
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On 18 March, the Commissions issued a joint statement setting out nine parameters to guide forthcoming decisions. This included considering further options to undertake work without decanting and looking at doing work over a shorter period. The statement reaffirmed the Commissions’ commitment to health and safety.69 The Clerk of the House and the Delivery Authority Chief Executive told us they have re-opened the scope and approach to the works by starting to consider other ways to restore and renew the Palace. This includes switching to a series of ‘agile’ projects.70 The Chief Executive of the Delivery Authority told us they had been asked to look at a completely different set of options.71 In June 2022, the Commissions endorsed the independent expert panel’s recommendation to develop and agree a long-term vision and outcomes for the Programme.72 Managing interdependent programmes
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Government response AI summary
The Sponsor Body CEO and the Delivery Authority CEO accept this recommendation, stating that plans for commencing intrusive surveys are on track to start in July 2022. These surveys will provide the Delivery Authority with key structural and ground condition information as well as adding …
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HM Treasury
30
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
Until February 2022, the Sponsor Body was preparing a business case based on Parliament fully moving out of the Palace during the works (known as a ‘full decant’). In December 2020, the House of Commons Commission agreed to ask the Sponsor Body to consider the implications of the Commons staying …
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Until February 2022, the Sponsor Body was preparing a business case based on Parliament fully moving out of the Palace during the works (known as a ‘full decant’). In December 2020, the House of Commons Commission agreed to ask the Sponsor Body to consider the implications of the Commons staying in the Palace during works (known as continued presence). In April 2021 the Speaker formally set out what this analysis should cover and asked the Sponsor Body to return before the end of the financial year for advice on whether to take this further. This followed the House of Lords Commission’s endorsement of the approach.81
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Government response AI summary
The Sponsor Body CEO and the Delivery Authority CEO accept this recommendation, stating that plans for commencing intrusive surveys are on track to start in July 2022. These surveys will provide the Delivery Authority with key structural and ground condition information as well as adding …
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HM Treasury
31
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
The Sponsor Body returned to the Commissions with its initial analysis on the impact of a continued presence in January 2022.82 In the initial analysis, the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority assumed that the Commons Chamber, alongside other functions requested by the Speaker of the House such as a media …
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The Sponsor Body returned to the Commissions with its initial analysis on the impact of a continued presence in January 2022.82 In the initial analysis, the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority assumed that the Commons Chamber, alongside other functions requested by the Speaker of the House such as a media viewing gallery, would remain in the Palace. They looked at two scenarios: staying in the Commons Chamber or moving the Chamber to a different location within the Palace. In both cases, they considered delivering the same scope as the full decant option.83
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Government response AI summary
The Sponsor Body CEO and the Delivery Authority CEO accept the recommendation to progress the intrusive surveys during the summer to determine what the asbestos removal plan should be, including whether it is safe to remain in the Palace whilst these works take place, and …
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HM Treasury
32
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
In March 2022, the Delivery Authority explained to us that initial analysis showed that, although technically possible, continued presence would lead to higher costs and 74 C&AG’s Report, para 3.24 75 C&AG’s Report, Figure 12 and para 3.27 76 C&AG’s Report, para 3.25 77 HC1100 Qq 141–142, HC49 Q59 78 …
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In March 2022, the Delivery Authority explained to us that initial analysis showed that, although technically possible, continued presence would lead to higher costs and 74 C&AG’s Report, para 3.24 75 C&AG’s Report, Figure 12 and para 3.27 76 C&AG’s Report, para 3.25 77 HC1100 Qq 141–142, HC49 Q59 78 Committee of Public Accounts, Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster, Nineteenth Report of Session 2019–21, HC 549, 2 October 2020 79 HC1100 Q 139 80 HC1100 Q 143 81 C&AG’s Report, para 7 82 C&AG’s Report, para 8 83 HC1100 Q 126; C&AG’s Report, Figure 5 18 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament take an enormously longer time (an extra 15 to 48 years). It would create extraordinary health and safety and fire safety risks, with a large array of temporary services required to maintain a continued presence. Parliament would also need to change how it operated although continued presence could still lead to potentially unacceptable disruption and noise for those working in the Palace and increase the potential for exposure to airborne asbestos which would take significant work to remove.84 The Delivery Authority told us that it is in the process of letting the contracts for intrusive surveys, having undertaken initial investigations into where asbestos might be located.85 The House of Commons Trade Union told us in written evidence that “the ongoing viability of the Palace of Westminster as a safe workplace is at stake and…anything less than the full decant envisaged under the Act would put that at risk”.86
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree with the Committee’s recommendation regarding risk thresholds, stating that risk management processes are already in place. The Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority accepted the recommendation to progress the intrusive surveys, stating that they …
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HM Treasury
34
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
In our May evidence session we asked the Delivery Authority whether, given its earlier analysis of continued presence options, it was comfortable developing these current options. The Delivery Authority told us that it had agreed a task brief to respond to a new and different question on the issue of …
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In our May evidence session we asked the Delivery Authority whether, given its earlier analysis of continued presence options, it was comfortable developing these current options. The Delivery Authority told us that it had agreed a task brief to respond to a new and different question on the issue of decant.91 In May 2022, the Clerk told us that whatever option was ultimately decided upon, some form of decant for a “significant period of time” would be required in order to restore and renew the services in and around the two Chambers.92 Transparency and accountability
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Government response AI summary
The Sponsor Body CEO and the Delivery Authority CEO accept the recommendation to progress the intrusive surveys during the summer to determine what the asbestos removal plan should be, including whether it is safe to remain in the Palace whilst these works take place, and …
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HM Treasury
37
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
Furthermore, the Commission has not yet set out its reason for suggesting the abolition of the Sponsor Body.99 The Sponsor Body had set out indicative cost and time estimates for the work, and then heard about plans to abolish it – we asked if this was a case of ‘shooting …
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Furthermore, the Commission has not yet set out its reason for suggesting the abolition of the Sponsor Body.99 The Sponsor Body had set out indicative cost and time estimates for the work, and then heard about plans to abolish it – we asked if this was a case of ‘shooting the messenger’ as the Commission did not want to hear the bad news. The Sponsor Body said “it can feel like that a little, yes”.100 In its written evidence, the House of Commons Trade Union Side noted that “Creating an arm’s length sponsor body was intended to allow the very objectivity and independence that has apparently now led to its own abolition”.101
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree to set out the threshold of risk they are willing to accept during the works. The Sponsor Body CEO and the Delivery Authority CEO accept the recommendation to progress the intrusive surveys during …
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HM Treasury
39
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
We reiterated that significant developments with the Programme should be fully in the public domain and received a commitment from the Clerk of the House, that the House will always be told when there is a significant development with the Programme.106 94 HM Treasury, Managing Public Money, May 2021, Box …
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We reiterated that significant developments with the Programme should be fully in the public domain and received a commitment from the Clerk of the House, that the House will always be told when there is a significant development with the Programme.106 94 HM Treasury, Managing Public Money, May 2021, Box 3.2, paragraphs 3.4.3. and 3.6.2. Available at: MPM_ Spring_21__without_annexes_040322.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) 95 Hansard HC, 29 January 2020, vol. 670, col 781 96 HC1100 Qq 68–69 97 HC1100 Q 107 98 HC1100 Qq 103–109 99 HC1100 Qq 98, 102, 119 100 HC1100 Qq 119–120 101 RRP0003 102 C&AG’s Report, para 2.16 103 Letter from Dr John Benger, 29 March 2022 104 HC1100 Q 41 105 C&AG’s Report, para 2.13 106 HC1100 Q 29 20 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament However, we were concerned that the House was not properly informed of the resignation of the Sponsor Body CEO. The resignation was posted on the Parliamentary intranet, but that is not sufficient for news as significant as this departure.107
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Government response AI summary
The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments agree with the Committee’s recommendation, stating that the revised safety escalation protocols were implemented on 6 April 2022 and will be reviewed. They have reviewed and updated the existing safety escalation arrangements, implemented improved …
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HM Treasury
40
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Restoration and Renewal …
Accepted
Following the House administrations being three months late sharing information about a recent asbestos incident, the Clerk of the House acknowledged staff should have been notified earlier.108 We heard relevant trade union representatives were informed on 15 February, five days after the report to the Health and Safety Executive.109 The …
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Following the House administrations being three months late sharing information about a recent asbestos incident, the Clerk of the House acknowledged staff should have been notified earlier.108 We heard relevant trade union representatives were informed on 15 February, five days after the report to the Health and Safety Executive.109 The Clerk of the House informed non-affected staff working in the Palace of the incident through an intranet article but also recognised that many staff do not tend to read the intranet.110 Given the location of the incident, the House administrations were not required to inform the trade unions for Members or third-party contractors.111 107 HC49 Q 17 108 HC1100 Q 28 109 HC1100 Q 43; Letter from Dr John Benger, 29 March 2022 110 HC1100 Qq 30 to 33 111 Letter from Dr John Benger, 29 March 2022 Restoration and Renewal of Parliament 21
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Government response AI summary
The Clerks agree with the Committee’s recommendation, having implemented revised safety escalation protocols on 6 April 2022 and scheduled a review of their effectiveness for October 2022 with annual reviews thereafter.
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HM Treasury