Parliament buildings at risk of 'catastrophic failure'

The Palace of Westminster is at serious risk of "catastrophic failure" unless repairs are carried out immediately, a committee of MPs has warned.

A report published by the public accounts committee (PAC), which oversees government spending, has supported a plan to undertake a "full decant" of the Grade I-listed building, which it says is "riddled with asbestos, frail stonework and ageing wiring" and may require demolition if urgent repairs are not made, reports the BBC.

"The risk of a catastrophic failure is high and growing with every month that passes", says the committee, listing likely causes as fire, water penetration, sewage flood, electrical failure or other mechanical breakdown.

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It added: "[Westminster] must be repaired. For a World Heritage site that is the home of the 'mother of parliaments', doing nothing is not an option.

"A full decant of the Palace of Westminster while major works are undertaken is most likely to be the most economical, effective and efficient choice."

Finding temporary accommodation for both the Commons and the Lords, along with completing the necessary repairs, may cost up to £3.9bn and take "around six years".

The final decision on which course of action to take will fall to the Treasury, although further delays are expected as MPs on the Treasury committee are also investigating the matter.

Treasury committee chairman Andrew Tyrie believes the PAC report does not provide sufficient evidence to make even a "preliminary decision" on how to tackle the issue.

But PAC chairman Meg Hillier warned: "Delaying a decision on how that work should be carried out will only add to the costs and risks.

"The longer the House of Commons spends mulling new or alternative options, the greater the chance that public money is wasted."