Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
Clerks rely on contractors for safety, but timely asbestos incident reporting remains an issue
Conclusion
To fulfil their statutory responsibilities, the Clerks rely on others, such as contractors working within the Palace to follow expected processes and meet standards.19 As the Clerks have outlined previously, they have established dedicated processes to help them report and manage serious events where asbestos has been discovered or disturbed.20 In July 2022, the Clerks wrote to us setting out how they had reviewed and updated safety escalation processes and committed to improve how they were operating. This followed us challenging the Clerks in March and May 2022 on the failure of a contractor to report an asbestos incident in a timely manner. Although the site was immediately closed, there were delays informing the Clerks, alongside the 117 people potentially exposed to asbestos, of the incident.21
Government Response Summary
The Clerks agree, committing to use the Programme Delivery Agreement to set explicit health and safety expectations for contractors, seek assurances on performance, and establish a robust monitoring framework. Improvements to incident reporting are already underway, and a new Director of Parliamentary Safety is being recruited.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Clerk of the House and Clerk of the Parliaments agree with this recommendation. The Clerks fully recognise the need to reiterate the importance of excellent health and safety performance, including the timeliness and accuracy of reporting, to all those involved in ongoing construction activities and future R&R works. The House safety teams work closely with the supply chain and their counterparts in the R&R team to do so. As contractors engaged in the substantial R&R works will have a contractual relationship with the R&R Delivery Authority, rather than the House Authorities, the Clerks will utilise the Programme Delivery Agreement to be explicit with the high expectations they have of them in managing their supply chain and seek assurances of their mechanisms to hold poor performers to account. This agreement will also outline how both organisations will cooperate with one another on health and safety matters; and take reasonable steps to coordinate activities and inform one another where there are risks to health and safety. To supplement the agreement, the Houses have a robust framework of monitoring and assurance to ensure that responsibilities of all parties are fully discharged and any indicators of poor performance are identified early and acted upon. In addition, the Clerks would like to note that, as outlined in their oral evidence, Parliament has always had a database of incidents, in order to discharge its obligations under health and safety and social security law. Improvements have been made to the accuracy and timeliness of incident reporting which underpins the database. The recruitment of a new Director of Parliamentary Safety remains ongoing. An interim is expected to be appointed shortly, to ensure necessary improvements to safety structures and governance are expedited.