Government is risking a Notre Dame style disaster if they keep
delaying decisions over the restoration of the Houses of
Parliament, a trade union representing parliamentary staff has
warned.
MPs are set to debate the plans once again on Thursday but
Prospect union, which represents staff on the estate, has urged
them to stop debating and give the green light to the plans they
have already approved as the building is increasingly unsafe for
staff and visitors.
The union is opposed to the idea of keeping staff working in the
building while it is being repaired- a plan that leader of the
House Jacob Rees Mogg is refusing to rule out- saying this would
be more risky, more expensive and would mean the work would take
longer to complete.
Prospect deputy general secretary Garry Graham said:
“It is beyond belief that the issue of the restoration and
renewal of parliament is still being debated by MPs.
“Parliament has already voted for a plan involving a full exodus
from the Palace while building works are underway, and the
independent experts found that keeping staff onsite while the
work was being carried out would involve an “extraordinary level
of risk” which would make the project longer, more costly, and
more disruptive to the work of parliament.
“The feet-dragging by the Leader of the House and a handful of
stubborn backbenchers is not only wasting time and costing money,
it is risking a Notre Dame style disaster as thousands of people
continue to go to work in a building which is badly in need of
repair.
“It is high time for MPs to stop this endless debate and get on
with the job, and for Government to recognise that they have a
responsibility, not only to preserve this historic building, but
to keep staff and visitors safe.”
