Watchdog to scrutinise cost overruns of £5.6bn Parliament overhaul
PLANS for a £5.6 billion overhaul of Parliament could be scaled back after the spending watchdog launched an inquiry into the huge cost overruns.
Concerns were raised about the escalating costs of the work on Big Ben and could provide political cover for a rethink of plans that are increasingly unnerving ministers.
The Daily Telegraph can also disclose that a refurbishment of the ancient Westminster Hall is also now 30 per cent over budget.
When MPS agreed the refurbishment of Elizabeth Tower in 2016, the project was expected to cost taxpayers £29million. However, MPS and peers are set to be told today that the bill has now soared to £80million.
The Times reported last night that some of the overruns came because the specialist clock team could not repair the timepiece’s mechanism, adding almost £2million to the bill. Other overruns included an extra £2million on scaffolding, £5million to clean up hazardous materials such as asbestos and £1 million in changes to the original specifications by MPS.
There has been some surprise among senior figures that a lift has been installed in the tower to carry visitors to see the Great Clock and Big Ben – the bell – up close once the work has been completed next year.
Gareth Davies, the head of the National Audit Office, confirmed in a letter to MP Mark Francois last week that it was now looking at both projects.
He said: “We are currently undertaking an initial examination and expect to report to Parliament in spring 2020.
“This examination will provide an early look at progress with the programme and the identification and management of risks going forward.”
Mr Francois said: “The massive cost overruns on the tower now raise severe doubts on the deliverability of the much wider multibillion-pound project in Parliament.” Sir Geoffrey Cliftonbrown,
a long-standing member of the House of Commons financial services committee that oversees the work on Parliament, said: “When the initial increase from £29million to £59million took place, I was extremely critical of the Estates department of the House for their lack of scoping before work began – they didn’t even know how they were going to scaffold the tower.
“This further overrun compounds the fact that the management of big capital projects in the House is totally inadequate and does not bode well for the management of any far bigger project of restoration and renewal in the northern estate and main building, which is going to cost many billions.”
A Parliament spokesman said: “As the condition of the tower is revealed, our knowledge of the extent of the damage and our understanding of the work required develops. The project team provide regular updates on progress and costs to MPS and peers.” He said he was “not aware of any inquiry into the Elizabeth Tower project”.