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Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Restoration and Renewal Recall

Status: Closed Opened: 13 Jan 2023 Closed: 21 Jul 2023 2 recommendations 32 conclusions 1 report

The Committee is recalling senior Parliamentary officials including the clerks of both Houses and the Chief Executives of the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority and Sponsor Body, to answer questions on the next steps in the programme. This follows the decision to abolish the Sponsor Body and reopen exploration of options for the works in …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifty-Second Report - Restoration & Renewal of the Pala… HC 1021 17 May 2023 34 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
32 Conclusion Fifty-Second Report - Restoration &… Accepted in Part

No formal process exists for Clerks to challenge misaligned restoration programme decisions.

There is currently no formal process in place should the Clerks be requested to do something they felt did not align with their respective responsibilities. For example, the Clerks cannot overrule the restoration and renewal Client Board or the Programme Board, but retain accountability for any decisions taken (whether or …

Government response. The Clerks agree with the conclusion, noting existing limited processes for disagreement and stating that in significant disagreements concerning the R&R works, they would formally record their disagreement in Board minutes and correspondence, rather than implementing a ministerial direction equivalent.
HM Treasury
33 Conclusion Fifty-Second Report - Restoration &… Accepted in Part

Unclear procedure for Clerks to record abuse and override decisions.

The Clerk of the House of Commons suggested that where there was a real abuse of procedure, there would be value to him being able to put this on record through placing a letter in the Library. He mentioned how the Speaker of the Commons recognised the value of introducing …

Government response. The government clarifies that an equivalent of a ministerial direction for Corporate Officers would be of limited value, but states they would record significant disagreements in formal Board minutes and correspondence for both Houses.
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
2 Feb 2023 David Goldstone CBE · Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority, Dr John Benger · House of Commons, Dr Patsy Richards · Restoration and Renewal Client Team, Simon Burton · House of Lords View ↗

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Mar 2023 — Joint correspondence from the House of Commons and House of Lords, dated 27 Feb…
2 Feb 2023 — Sir John Benger KCB, Clerk, House at House of Common, re Asbestos update, dated…
2 Feb 2023 — Joint correspondence from Sir John Benger KCB, Clerk, House at House of Common,…
16 Jan 2023 — Correspondence from John Benger, Clerk of the House, Palace of Westminster, re …