Menu
UK Parliament

Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill: Lords third reading

6 September 2019

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

The Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill had its third reading, a chance to 'tidy up' the bill and make changes, in the Lords on Thursday 5 September.

No changes were suggested to the bill ahead of third reading. Members discussed the passage of the bill at the conclusion of its Lords stages.

Following completion of third reading, the bill now passes to the Commons for consideration of Lords amendments.

Lords report stage: Tuesday 3 September

Members discussed a range of subjects, including:

  • promoting public understanding of the programme
  • obtaining the views of members of the public, along with those employed by either House or by its members
  • ensuring the works are carried out with a view to facilitating public engagement
  • future maintenance of the building over the long term
  • timeline for the restoration work, including decant and completion dates

Lords committee stage: Monday 22 July

Members discussed a range of subjects, including:

  • the promotion of public understanding and engagement with the Restoration and Renewal Programme
  • the protection of the historic fabric of the Palace of Westminster and its status as a World Heritage Site
  • the duty of Delivery Authority to publish a report on steps being taken to ensure disabled access across the restored Parliamentary Estate.

 Lords second reading: Monday 8 July

Members discussed a range of subjects, including the establishment of the works sponsor body, access for disabled people and protection of the Palace's heritage.                        

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Conservative), the bill's sponsor in the Lords and leader of the House, opened the debate.

Motion to regret

Lord Adonis (Labour) proposed a motion to regret that the bill does not include the option to relocate Parliament to a city outside London as a means of rebalancing the constitution, which is over-centralised on London.

If agreed, the motion would not have stopped the bill, but provided an opportunity for the House to put its opinion on record.

The motion was discussed in the main debate rather than as a separate item, but not put to a vote.

Committee stage, the first chance for detailed line-by-line scrutiny, is yet to be scheduled.

Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill summary

This bill aims to:

  • establish the statutory bodies that will be responsible for the works for the restoration and renewal of buildings within the Parliamentary estate
  • establish the governance structure within which those bodies will operate. 

Image: House of Lords 2019 / Photography by Roger Harris

Further information


 

Related news