Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to his Written Answers on 30 January (HL4799) and 13 February (HL5205), whether a review will be conducted of the cost involved of having traffic controllers stationed on the parliamentary estate during the current building works; and what assessment has been made of the proportionality of that cost to the risks identified.

Strategic Estates are reviewing the number of traffic marshals on the Parliamentary estate, including the cost. A period of review is necessary to analyse the operation and impact of the one-way system and the role of traffic marshals. The review will look to reduce the number of marshals, if appropriate.

When building work is undertaken on the estate there is an obligation to do everything reasonably practicable to ensure safety and minimise the impact to the business of both Houses. The introduction of traffic marshals was based on risk assessments and follows the published guidance from the Health and Safety Executive. The guidance states that pedestrians and traffic should be segregated on construction sites. As this is not possible on the Parliamentary Estate, additional mitigations are required. It is deemed, therefore, that traffic controllers on the estate are necessary while construction work is taking place.