The Palace of Westminster risks a catastrophic fire like the one that struck Notre Dame unless MPs stop delaying decisions on its restoration, the Commons public accounts committee has warned, according to The Guardian. The cross-party committee said every year of inaction adds an estimated £420m to the cost of the programme, while routine upkeep of the Victorian building, currently about £1.5m a week, is expected to reach £2m.
Leaking roofs, failing plumbing, crumbling stonework and outdated wiring mean fire patrols operate around the clock. A recent estimate put the full restoration at up to £40bn over as long as six decades. Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown spoke of a political allergy to making decisions. The report urges the clerks of both Houses to set out within six months how parliamentarians will be properly involved, ahead of a decision on the main works in 2030.
Source: The Guardian