Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside representing the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body, what the latest estimate is that the Delivery Authority has submitted to the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body regarding the overall cost of the Restoration and Renewal Programme.

The Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority have been working to the mandate set out in the resolutions of both Houses in early 2018 and the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019 to prepare a Programme Business Case for the works to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster.

The approach to developing a Programme Business Case was confirmed and agreed with the House Commissions following a Strategic Review of the Restoration and Renewal Programme in early 2021. That Programme Business Case was planned to be presented to both Houses in 2023 and, as part of the normal process of developing such a Business Case, information is regularly shared between the Delivery Authority and Sponsor Body for review, scrutiny, challenge and guidance.

In recent months, the Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority have, for the first time, brought together an initial consolidated view of a preliminary cost and schedule range for an option known as the R&R Essential Scheme. This initial estimate reflects emerging thoughts, approximately half way through the planned period for developing the Programme Business Case. This does not represent a formal cost estimate and remains subject to a considerable amount of further work, planned for the next year.

The House of Commons Commission has recently requested that the Sponsor Body publishes this information and a copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library shortly.