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MPs could be moved out of Commons MPs could be moved out of Commons
(about 3 hours later)
MPs could be moved out of Parliament for up to three years while a major refit of the Commons takes place.MPs could be moved out of Parliament for up to three years while a major refit of the Commons takes place.
Urgent work costing "hundreds of millions of pounds" needs to be carried out on the historic building. Urgent work costing about £350m needs to be carried out on the historic central London building.
The Commons authorities have commissioned a £250,000 feasibility study into the options for relocating MPs while it is completed.The Commons authorities have commissioned a £250,000 feasibility study into the options for relocating MPs while it is completed.
They could meet at a nearby conference centre - or even in the Lords chamber, which does not need a similar refit.They could meet at a nearby conference centre - or even in the Lords chamber, which does not need a similar refit.
Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, spokesman for the Commons commission, said it was "pretty well inevitable" that MPs would have to move out during the repairs.
Essential repairs
The only question was whether it would be for a "few weeks in Westminster Hall or a couple of years or more in another place".
"Initially, I think MPs will be against it," said Mr Harvey, but he hoped they would change their minds when they had seen the feasibility study and the likely timescale.
The work was not likely to start until 2012, he added.
Essential repairs to the Palace of Westminster are usually carried out during the summer months when Parliament is in recess.Essential repairs to the Palace of Westminster are usually carried out during the summer months when Parliament is in recess.
But the scale of work which needs to be done is so great that it would take about 25 years to complete in this way.But the scale of work which needs to be done is so great that it would take about 25 years to complete in this way.
ModernModern
More than 500 miles of water pipes, electrical cables and telephone wires need to be replaced in what would be the biggest programme of works since 1947, when the Commons last underwent a major refit. More than 500 miles of water pipes, electrical cables and telephone wires need to be replaced in what would be the biggest programme of works since 1947, when the Commons was rebuilt after the Second World War.
There were 33 leaks from hot water pipes in the past month and there is also a problem with asbestos, which needs to be removed.There were 33 leaks from hot water pipes in the past month and there is also a problem with asbestos, which needs to be removed.
The complete project will take many years and involve considerable cost Nick Harvey Commons commission
A Commons spokeswoman said much of the infrastructure in the Commons had reached the end of its "economic life".A Commons spokeswoman said much of the infrastructure in the Commons had reached the end of its "economic life".
"Work has to be done all the time but there comes a point when you have to do major replacement," she told BBC News."Work has to be done all the time but there comes a point when you have to do major replacement," she told BBC News.
She said the IT infrastructure would also be upgraded and more modern, environmentally friendly generators would also be installed.She said the IT infrastructure would also be upgraded and more modern, environmentally friendly generators would also be installed.
She refused to speculate on where MPs would meet while the work was taking place.She refused to speculate on where MPs would meet while the work was taking place.
Could MPs find a temporary home across Parliament Square?
But if it was decided to close the Commons chamber, she said they would move somewhere close to the House of Parliament, to enable them to carry on working as closely as possible to normal.But if it was decided to close the Commons chamber, she said they would move somewhere close to the House of Parliament, to enable them to carry on working as closely as possible to normal.
MPs briefly met in the House of Lords chamber during the Second World War but any move to repeat that might be resisted by peers.MPs briefly met in the House of Lords chamber during the Second World War but any move to repeat that might be resisted by peers.
Another option might be to set up a temporary chamber in the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre, at the other side of Parliament Square.Another option might be to set up a temporary chamber in the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre, at the other side of Parliament Square.
'Substantial savings'
The Commons spokeswoman stressed that no decision would be taken until the feasibility study had been completed.The Commons spokeswoman stressed that no decision would be taken until the feasibility study had been completed.
The plan was revealed in a written Parliamentary answer. The feasibility study is expected to report in the middle of next year.
Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, a spokesman for the House of Commons commission, said: "The complete project will take many years and involve considerable cost."
He added that the Commission was ordering a feasibility study to "examine whether substantial savings in cost, time and risk could be made by moving some operations of both Houses out of the Palace for a period to enable modernisation to be carried out continuously until its completion".
The feasibility study is expected to report in the middle of next year, with the work expected to start after that, once budgets have been agreed.