Parliament costs £625m

Official figures released last week show that the 17-year programme to restore Parliament, modernise its services and build new offices will cost £625 million.

The report to the House of Commons Commission, by a team led by Michael Braithwaite, calls for better financial management, a new audit committee and a reform of the system for approving works.

The report follows growing criticisms over the £230 million expenditure on Portcullis House (CJ 7 July 1999), the new office building for MP's. The report states that concern is mounting for the long-term works programme, with two key issues - work priorities and value for money.

Spending on repairs to the Palace of Westminster itself has also been escalating since a £220 million rolling programme of works began in 1990. About half the original budget has been spent and further work is expected to be completed by 2005. A further £175 million has now been earmarked to pay for further improvements and routine maintenance until 2007.

Criticisms focused on four areas. Delays in carrying out minor repairs, poor planning of more substantial work and the delays in execution, a backlog of major maintenance and improvement, and the quality of planning and management of major new building work.