House of Commons · General Debate
26 January 2023 · 4 other contributors
Opened by Barry Sheerman Lab Huddersfield
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Barry Sheerman raised concerns about restoration and renewal client board in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
The hon. Member for Huddersfield raised concerns about the current state of restoration and renewal efforts at the Palace of Westminster, emphasising that it is a mess both in terms of sustainable procurement policies and overall progress. He highlighted local constituents' frustrations with the inefficiencies and lack of visible progress, suggesting that Parliament is failing to organise effectively.
The hon. Member for Broxbourne responded by acknowledging the complexity of the situation but noted that the delivery authority’s procurement policy includes sustainability as a key criterion, aiming to ensure efficient and responsible resource consumption while fostering construction and craft skills nationally.
The hon. Member for Huddersfield reiterated his concerns about the lack of progress in restoration efforts, questioning why no concrete plans are being made to relocate while the work is underway and expressing frustration over the current state of affairs.
The right hon. Lady agreed with Barry Sheerman's sentiments, questioning why Parliament was not planning a temporary relocation to another location during the restoration period and expressing doubt about whether any significant progress would be made without immediate action.
The hon. Member for Broxbourne addressed Andrea Leadsom's concerns by explaining that while there are complexities in the restoration programme, efforts were being made to find a suitable funding mechanism and that progress was indeed being achieved despite challenges.