House of Commons Commission

In the House of Commons debate, the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, addressed two key issues raised by members. Firstly, on the matter of access to period products on the parliamentary estate, the hon. Member stated that the House of Commons Administration is committed to providing period products for emergency use, available free of charge in selected toilets across the estate. He acknowledged that no one should be put in an uncomfortable situation due to lack of access to these essential items. In response, the hon. Member for City of Durham praised this initiative but argued that more places should be made available, including in constituency offices around the country. The hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney agreed to take this point back to the Administration Committee for further consideration. Turning to the restoration and renewal programme for the Palace of Westminster, the hon. Member provided an update on the progress made. He explained that the Restoration and Renewal Client Board had published the strategic case earlier this year, and detailed work is now underway to develop robust cost, timescale and risk estimates for the various options, which will be presented to the House in 2025 to inform the decision-making process. The hon. Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch, a long-standing advocate for the programme, expressed frustration at the slow pace of progress, noting the ongoing issues with the building's condition and the need to address them before a catastrophic event. The hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney acknowledged the importance of moving faster and reducing costs, and promised to work together with members on this critical issue. The debate also saw an intervention from the hon. Member for Harrow East, who highlighted the significant monthly expenditure on maintaining the Palace and the need to expedite the decision-making process to avoid further degradation and increased costs for taxpayers. The hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney acknowledged the validity of these concerns and committed to providing a more detailed response on the specific maintenance costs. Overall, the debate touched on the House of Commons Commission's efforts to improve access to period products on the parliamentary estate, as well as the ongoing challenges and progress of the restoration and renewal programme for the Palace of Westminster, with members from both sides of the House emphasizing the urgency of addressing the building's deteriorating condition.