Recommendation 2

We are concerned that re-opening decisions made earlier in the Programme risks further delays. In May 2020, the newly formed Sponsor Body announced a strategic review to re-examine options for the Programme to consider whether anything has changed, either politically, economically or environmentally since the Joint Committee report of 2016. But the Sponsor Body has not clearly set out what this review covers or what previous decisions may be re-opened. In 2016, the Joint Committee recommended that a full decant of Parliament was the best option to deliver the Restoration and Renewal Programme. We similarly recommended that this was the most economical, efficient and effective choice from the options available. In January 2018, the Commons voted in favour of the Programme and to fully decant from the Palace during the works. Some level of further deliberation in order to understand the opinions and needs of current Members is sensible. However, we are concerned that there is a risk that the review will re-open decisions and cause yet further delays to the Programme, with the resulting risks to personal safety, the Palace structure and taxpayer money. Recommendation: We would hope that the sponsor body in its forthcoming review will fully explain which issues have and are being re-examined, and why; and explain the basis on which decisions will be re-opened in the future.