Hoyle frustrated at slow Westminster restoration

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has expressed frustration at the lack of progress on restoring the Palace of Westminster, the building that houses the UK Parliament. BBC News

Sir Lindsay, who chairs debates in the Commons, said the current process for approving essential renovations amounted to "putting ourselves in handcuffs". He said more time was being spent on surveys than on getting repairs under way. He also said current legislation prevents major repairs until Parliament has approved the full scope and funding of the project. He questioned why a fire-suppressing mist system had not yet been installed throughout the most historic parts of the building.

The restoration could cost up to £40bn and take 61 years. Each additional year of delay costs taxpayers £420m.

Several options are under consideration. One would see MPs and peers move out of the building for up to 24 years from 2032, at a cost of up to £15.6bn. Another, involving only the House of Lords moving out, would cost £39bn and take 61 years. A planned vote in Parliament would decide whether to go ahead with up to £3bn of initial restoration work, ahead of a final decision by 2030.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee, a group of MPs that examines public spending, published a warning on 4 November that it was "crunch time" for the restoration. The committee said a Notre-Dame-style fire was among the "real and rising risks" of further delay, according to Sky News and Anadolu Agency.

Parliament's own Restoration and Renewal Programme says the work will use UK materials wherever possible. It also says the project will create jobs and apprenticeships across the country in areas including engineering, high-tech design, carpentry and stonemasonry. Costed proposals with recommendations on the way forward have been published and presented to both Houses of Parliament.