More asbestos has been identified across the UK parliamentary estate as MPs face renewed calls to approve a major refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster. The latest records list more than 1,650 items, including insulation, roofing, floor tiles and ropes—around 500 more than in 2021.
Parliamentary authorities said the additional items were found during surveys carried out in preparation for the long-delayed restoration programme. Although 700 asbestos items have been removed over the past five years, the total has risen. Almost 200 items are classed as medium risk and may need remedial work, while most are considered low risk because they are in concealed areas and are less likely to be disturbed.
The government is considering a vote on the refurbishment, which could cost as much as £40bn and take 61 years. The Commons Public Accounts Committee said MPs and peers have enough information to decide on a way forward before the end of this year. The BBC reported that government whips have discussed holding a debate and vote by then, but no date has been set.
A vote would determine whether to proceed with up to £3bn of initial work and narrow the current options, ahead of a final decision by 2030. One proposal would require MPs and peers to leave the site for up to 24 years from 2032, at a cost of up to £15.6bn. Another would move only the House of Lords, with the project estimated to cost £39bn and take 61 years.
The committee warned that every additional year of delay costs taxpayers £420m. Its chair, Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, also raised concerns about the risk of a major fire, saying that a small blaze could spread through the building. He pointed to the presence of 24-hour fire patrols and warned of the potential for severe damage to the historic site and harm to people.
Asbestos is one of the main reasons cited for the refurbishment, because its fibres can endanger health when released into the air. While the material is largely fireproof, nearby fire and heat can carry fibres over long distances. Parliament said an asbestos-free building is not practical without demolition or extensive damage to the structure.
A parliamentary spokesperson said the safety of people working in and visiting the estate was the institution’s absolute priority. Measures include improved asbestos monitoring, awareness training and plans for further removal.
Kris Gledhill, whose mother, former Labour MP Alice Mahon, died in 2022 from mesothelioma, told the BBC that asbestos should not be treated as low risk. He called for a precautionary approach that takes account of building deterioration, extreme weather, flooding, fire and disruption during maintenance or renovation.
The committee also cited an overcomplicated decision-making process and delays in securing a temporary home for the House of Lords at the nearby Queen Elizabeth II conference centre among the obstacles to the programme. Mesothelioma UK chief executive Hannah Moody said she supports a national asbestos register and the phased removal of asbestos from public buildings.
Sources: BBC News UK.