Recommendation 34

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 million, compared with the original £29 million budget.81 We questioned the Clerks on the skills they felt they would need to have accountability for a unique programme of this size and complexity. The Clerks told us they recognised the differing skillsets, and had recently appointed staff to support them in delivering their responsibilities. This included a new director general (operations) within the House of Commons administrations and a chief operating officer within the House of Lords administrations.82 Shortly after our evidence session, the Clerk of the House of Commons, Sir John Benger, announced his intention to step down from his post in the autumn of 2023. 76 Q 64 77 Qq 75, 76, 98 78 Committee of Public Accounts, Twenty-Eight Report of Session 2022–23, Improving the Accounting Officer Assessment process, HC43, 30 November 2022 79 Qq 64–65 80 Qq 65, 66–79 81 Committee of Public Accounts, Tenth Report of Session 2022–23, Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster, HC 49, 29 June 2022 82 Q28 & Q31 Restoration & Renewal of the Palace of Westminster – 2023 Recall 19