Question
To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate the Commission has made of the (a) size of the chamber and (b) office capacity needed for the (i) House of Commons and (ii) House of Lords when Parliament is temporarily relocated during the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster.
Answered on
21 November 2016
The House of Commons Commission has not made any assessment of the size of the chambers and office capacity needed for both Houses if Parliament is temporarily relocated during the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster. The Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster considered various options for temporary accommodation for both Houses, which are outlined in its Report (First Report of Session 2016–17, HC 659).
The Committee recommended that the general floor space and layout of the two Chambers should be replicated as far as possible in any temporary accommodation, and that office accommodation should provide the same number of desks for members of both Houses as are currently provided in the Palace. The House of Commons Commission has no responsibility for estimating the future size of the House of Lords.