Question

To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will make a statement on the new short-term task brief agreed by the Restoration and Renewal Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority; and what steps have been agreed to be taken in order to prepare for the future transition of the programme to a new operating framework.

Under the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019, it is for the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body to task the Delivery Authority.

Following the meetings of the two Houses’ Commissions in February, the Sponsor Body provided the Delivery Authority with new instructions in the form of a Task Brief which embodies the relevant decisions of the Commissions. The Task Brief addressed: stopping or completing activities that were no longer relevant; continuing activities that would be relevant for any future programme of works; and continuing necessary corporate functions.

The Delivery Authority continues to undertake or has commenced other work including essential surveys and gathering of information about the condition of the Palace.

Work is continuing, at the direction of the Commissions, on preparing for changes to the Restoration and Renewal Programme. As noted in the Commissions’ joint statement of 18 March 2022, an independent panel of experts has been convened at the request of the Commissions to provide advice on changes to the sponsorship function and assurance on a new approach to the works. The panel’s work will inform the Commissions’ deliberations and the recommendations which they will propose to the two Houses on a revised mandate for the works and changes to the sponsorship function. This is currently planned to take place before the summer recess. Any changes will ultimately be a matter for the two Houses.

An R&R transition programme which brings together officials from the two Houses, the Sponsor Body and the Delivery Authority has been established to support the Commissions in their work.