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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
13 Conclusion Fifty-Second Report - Restoration &… Not Addressed

Programme leadership capacity significantly diminished following staff departures and recruitment difficulties.

During this time, the House Administrations also worked to transition from the former Sponsor Body into the R&R Client Team. We have previously highlighted the risk that delays to changing the programme governance, and continuing uncertainty, could lead to a loss of vital capability from within the Sponsor Body and …

Government response. The government's response outlines future programme milestones for presenting a strategic case and developing costed proposals but does not address the committee's specific observations regarding challenges in staff transition, loss of leadership, and difficulties in recruiting to key roles within …
HM Treasury
34 Conclusion Fifty-Second Report - Restoration &… Not Addressed

Clerks' capacity and expertise for large projects remain concerning, amidst leadership changes.

We have previously expressed concern that the Clerks do not have the expertise or the capacity to successfully oversee a large infrastructure project of this cost and complexity. Their previous experience overseeing work on, for example, Elizabeth Tower shows how challenging this can be, with renovation set to cost £86 …

Government response. The response repeats the committee's concern that the Clerks do not have the expertise or the capacity to successfully oversee a large infrastructure project, but does not offer a response or action.
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 …