Restoration and renewal

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 23 Jun 2020 Closed: 2 Dec 2020 Parliament page
In January 2018, following 20 years of discussion, Parliament approved the Restoration and Renewal programme, with an Act establishing the programme and overarching governance receiving Royal Assent in October 2019. It aims to address maintenance issues, with the Palace described as soon to become ‘uninhabitable,’ and wider objectives. The NAO’s … Read more
1 Recommendation
23 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 5 events
18 Nov
2020
Report published
3 Nov
2020
Correspondence
5 Oct
2020
Report published
21 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
21 Jul
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
21 Jul 2020
View on parliament.uk
Restoration and renewal
David Goldstone · HM Treasury Dr John Benger · House of Commons Ed Ollard · House of Lords Ian Ailles · House of Commons Sarah Johnson · Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Nineteenth Report - Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Wes… HC 549 5 Oct 2020 24 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
24 results
2 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
We are concerned that re-opening decisions made earlier in the Programme risks further delays.
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, … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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3 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
Successful delivery of the Programme is heavily reliant on many factors which are still uncertain.
Successful delivery of the Programme is heavily reliant on many factors which are still uncertain. The Programme is at an early stage and there are many uncertainties yet to be addressed. The Sponsor Body and Palace authorities have limited information … Read more
Government Response
The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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4 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Programme is also dependent on several factors outside the Sponsor Body’s control.
The Programme is also dependent on several factors outside the Sponsor Body’s control. The parliamentary estates team is currently responsible for the refurbishment of parliament’s Northern Estate, which includes the planned Commons decant chamber at Richmond House. No decision has … Read more
Government Response
The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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5 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body has not made it clear how it will balance Parliament’s range of...
The Sponsor Body has not made it clear how it will balance Parliament’s range of views on the Programme. The Sponsor Body will have to balance a wide variety of views from groups of Members within both the House of … Read more
Government Response
The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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6 Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body has not engaged sufficiently with the public and other Palace users to...
The Sponsor Body has not engaged sufficiently with the public and other Palace users to understand what they want from a modern parliament building. The Palace of Westminster is symbol of British democracy. Around 5,000 people work in the Palace … Read more
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence about the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme (the Programme) from the Sponsor Body, the Delivery Authority, the Clerks of both Houses and the … Read more
Government Response
1. NHS resilience and recovery – Lee McDonough, DHSC; Ruth May, Chief Nursing Office for England 2. Social care resilience including workforce and minimising transmission – Michelle Dyson, DHSC 3. … Read more
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
Since the establishment of the Programme in 2012, it has taken 8 years to the...
Since the establishment of the Programme in 2012, it has taken 8 years to the establishment of the Sponsor Body. Each year that passes increases the risk to life, failure of key utilities or irreparable damage to the building itself, … Read more
Government Response
The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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8 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body did not want to commit to when the Programme might commence construction...
The Sponsor Body did not want to commit to when the Programme might commence construction work until the business case is complete.14 However, the Clerk of the House of Commons told us that “doing nothing is very expensive” and that … Read more
Government Response
The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
In May 2020, the Sponsor body announced a strategic review; it expects to report in...
In May 2020, the Sponsor body announced a strategic review; it expects to report in the autumn.16 The Sponsor Body told us that the object of the review was to test whether the assumptions of the Joint Committee’s work have … Read more
Government Response
The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The continual re-opening of decisions risks delaying the Programme even further with the concomitant risks...
The continual re-opening of decisions risks delaying the Programme even further with the concomitant risks to personal safety, the Palace structure and taxpayer money. We asked the Clerk of the House of Commons on what basis decisions would be opened … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Programme is at an early stage with a large number of uncertainties.
The Programme is at an early stage with a large number of uncertainties. The actual condition of the Palace, for which there is a lack of documentation, is unknown.22 For Parliament to return to the refurbished Palace in the 2030s … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body considers that the current biggest risk to the Programme is uncertainty on...
The Sponsor Body considers that the current biggest risk to the Programme is uncertainty on the condition of the building, meaning that it is currently unclear as to the scale of the work required.25 The Sponsor Body told us that … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The current expectation is that during the Programme, the Commons will decant to Richmond House.
The current expectation is that during the Programme, the Commons will decant to Richmond House. The project to develop Richmond House, which the Sponsor Body told us is “absolutely key” in terms of delivering Restoration and Renewal, is part of … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body told us that there is currently no clarity “about whether some, all...
The Sponsor Body told us that there is currently no clarity “about whether some, all or none of [the NEP] comes across to the Sponsor Body” and if it does, at what stage of the Programme.33 It is vital that … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
In addition to the NEP, the parliamentary estates team is currently managing other projects, such...
In addition to the NEP, the parliamentary estates team is currently managing other projects, such as the relocation of the archives from Victoria Tower, and the £100 million project to replace the Palace’s cast iron roofs.35 Day-to-day maintenance of the … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Director General of the House of Commons told us that the House and the...
The Director General of the House of Commons told us that the House and the Sponsor Body were working together to avoid spending on projects that would subsequently be replaced by the Programme.37 However, we heard from the Clerk of … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
As a Parliamentary rather than government project, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has no...
As a Parliamentary rather than government project, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has no formal role in reviewing the Programme. However, in February 2020 the Sponsor Body and Parliament commissioned an independent review of the Sponsor Body’s readiness to … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body has not yet developed cost and time estimates as it is unclear...
The Sponsor Body has not yet developed cost and time estimates as it is unclear what the Programme is delivering, or when. It expects to develop these as part of the business case, after building its understanding of uncertainties.43 The … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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19 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
While almost all Members of Parliament agree that restoration is necessary, there is not agreement...
While almost all Members of Parliament agree that restoration is necessary, there is not agreement on what should be done and how.45 The 2018 motion agreeing to a complete decant during the works passed by 16 votes, and did not … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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20 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
Most recently, in July 2020, the Prime Minister wrote to the Sponsor Body and the...
Most recently, in July 2020, the Prime Minister wrote to the Sponsor Body and the Delivery Authority to suggest that they consider York as a potential location for Parliament while the Programme is undertaken as the government was considering establishing … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body told us that it has established a challenge panel, as part of...
The Sponsor Body told us that it has established a challenge panel, as part of its strategic review. We heard from the Sponsor Body that it is intended as a “mechanism for us to test ideas, to mitigate the risk … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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22 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
In May, the Sponsor Body published its Member consultation strategy as required under the legislation,...
In May, the Sponsor Body published its Member consultation strategy as required under the legislation, to which Members, Members’ staff and staff of both Houses were invited to contribute. However, the Sponsor Body acknowledged that consultation and the achievement of … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
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23 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body has not finalised its overarching engagement strategy and has yet to develop...
The Sponsor Body has not finalised its overarching engagement strategy and has yet to develop a plan of how it will engage with members of the public on the Programme. The Palace of Westminster is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, … Read more
Government Response
Responses to the Committee The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
View details
24 Conclusion
Nineteenth Report - Restoration an…
The Sponsor Body is currently considering how it might best approach a public engagement strategy.53...
The Sponsor Body is currently considering how it might best approach a public engagement strategy.53 As a key stakeholder, it is imperative that the public are involved as soon as possible in the discussion as to what a modern Parliament … Read more
Government Response
The Sponsor Body is not a government body so will provide responses to the recommendations in the PAC report directly to the Committee.
HM Treasury
View details
Correspondence 1 letter
3 Nov 2020 Correspondence from the HOC Sponsor Body on the Restoration and Renewal Programme Report, dated 15 October 2020
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