UK lawmakers have rung the bell on need to carry out urgent repairs of Westminster Palace, which houses the British Parliament. In a report, the parliament's Public Accounts Committee has said that "years of procrastination and debate" has meant that it was difficult to have confidence that the required repairs will be carried out. &nbsp;The committee said that the focus so far has been on Members of &nbsp;Parliament and not so much on thousands of staff and visitors who use the building.

UK Parliament itself has mentioned the report on its official website in a news article.

The report said that committee found it to be 'incredible' that no one has specified how the restored palace would look like even after the House determined a course of action. Further delays would be 'hugely costly to the taxpayer'.

<h2>Just 'patching up'</h2>

According to the report, the parliament is spending up to 2 million pounds a week 'patching up the palace' but there was a long and growing list of health and safety incidents 'including some involving asbestos'.&nbsp;

The committee has demanded "a clear indication of the cost and timeline for getting this massive job done before it becomes too late to do so."&nbsp;

The Westminster Palace is more than a century old. The complex has major problems such a architectural damage, roof leaks, steam pipe bursts etc. Chunks of masonary occasionally come&nbsp;crashing down. Media reports suggest that electrical and mechanical systems were last renovated in the 1940s.

In 2018, after years of dilly-dallying, MPs decided to move out in mid 2020s to make way for years of repair works.

The palace is a masterpiece of architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. About 1 million people visit it each year. The building was designed by architect Charles Barry in neo-Gothic style. The previous parliament complex was destroyed in fire in 1834.&nbsp;

<h2>Full statement of committee chair</h2>

Here is the full statement from Dame Meg Hiller, MP, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

“After years of procrastination and debate, resolutions of the House overturned and the exploding costs we saw in restoring just the Elizabeth Tower, it is difficult to have confidence in the future of the project to repair and restore this iconic world heritage site that thousands of people work in and visit every day."&nbsp;

But without Parliament and the public having that confidence these critical works will continue to stall, with the real risk that the whole building will be destroyed by a catastrophic incident before the work is done, or perhaps even begun. There are already people on decades-long risk watchlists after being exposed to asbestos in the building; a building that’s leaking, dropping masonry and at constant risk of fire. &nbsp;

Given the uncertainties over how the clerks will manage their legal responsibilities, who will really be held responsible and accountable if the unthinkable happens? In response to this report the PAC expects a lot more clarity on those critical issues and, finally, a clear indication of the cost and timeline for getting this massive job done before it becomes too late to do so.”&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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UK lawmakers have rung the bell on need to carry out urgent repairs of Westminster Palace, which houses the British Parliament. In a report, the parliament's Public Accounts Committee has said that "years of procrastination and debate" has meant that it was difficult to have confidence that the required repairs will be carried out.

UK lawmakers have rung the bell on need to carry out urgent repairs of Westminster Palace, which houses the British Parliament. In a report, the parliament's Public Accounts Committee has said that "years of procrastination and debate" has meant that it was difficult to have confidence that the required repairs will be carried out. The committee said that the focus so far has been on Members of Parliament and not so much on thousands of staff and visitors who use the building. UK Parliament itself has mentioned the report on its official website in a news article. The report said that committee found it to be 'incredible' that no one has specified how the restored palace would look like even after the House determined a course of action. Further delays would be 'hugely costly to the taxpayer'. Just 'patching up' According to the report, the parliament is spending up to 2 million pounds a week 'patching up the palace' but there was a long and growing list of health and safety incidents 'including some involving asbestos'. The committee has demanded "a clear indication of the cost and timeline for getting this massive job done before it becomes too late to do so." The Westminster Palace is more than a century old. The complex has major problems such a architectural damage, roof leaks, steam pipe bursts etc. Chunks of masonary occasionally come crashing down. Media reports suggest that electrical and mechanical systems were last renovated in the 1940s. In 2018, after years of dilly-dallying, MPs decided to move out in mid 2020s to make way for years of repair works. The palace is a masterpiece of architecture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. About 1 million people visit it each year. The building was designed by architect Charles Barry in neo-Gothic style. The previous parliament complex was destroyed in fire in 1834. Full statement of committee chair Here is the full statement from Dame Meg Hiller, MP, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. “After years of procrastination and debate, resolutions of the House overturned and the exploding costs we saw in restoring just the Elizabeth Tower, it is difficult to have confidence in the future of the project to repair and restore this iconic world heritage site that thousands of people work in and visit every day." But without Parliament and the public having that confidence these critical works will continue to stall, with the real risk that the whole building will be destroyed by a catastrophic incident before the work is done, or perhaps even begun. There are already people on decades-long risk watchlists after being exposed to asbestos in the building; a building that’s leaking, dropping masonry and at constant risk of fire. Given the uncertainties over how the clerks will manage their legal responsibilities, who will really be held responsible and accountable if the unthinkable happens? In response to this report the PAC expects a lot more clarity on those critical issues and, finally, a clear indication of the cost and timeline for getting this massive job done before it becomes too late to do so.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Crumbling UK Parliament building at risk of collapse, needs urgent repairs, say lawmakers

British Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nireland-government-returns-after-three-year-suspension-273609">Boris Johnson</a> on Tuesday proposed a&nbsp;crowdfunding&nbsp;campaign to&nbsp;allow&nbsp;Big&nbsp;Ben&nbsp;bell in parliament’s landmark clock tower to ring out when Britain is due to leave the European Union.

The 13.7-tonne bell has been largely silent since 2017 while renovation work is carried out on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-harry-and-i-are-separate-entities-prince-william-273926">Elizabeth Tower</a> which houses it, sounding only for important events such as New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The prime minister was speaking after a House of Commons Commission dismissed the proposal for the bell to sound for&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;because it would be too expensive.

Johnson said it would cost 500,000 pounds ($648,450) to&nbsp;allow&nbsp;Big&nbsp;Ben&nbsp;to sound at 2300 GMT on January&nbsp;31, the moment&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;is officially due to take place. But he said people could donate cash to pay for it.

"We are working up a plan so people can bung a bob for a&nbsp;Big&nbsp;Ben&nbsp;bong," Johnson told the BBC in an interview.

"As everybody knows,&nbsp;Big&nbsp;Ben&nbsp;is being refurbished, they seem to have taken the clapper away. So we need to restore the clapper in order to&nbsp;bong&nbsp;Big&nbsp;Ben&nbsp;on&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;night. And that is expensive."

The prime minister's suggestion comes after a group of pro-Brexit&nbsp;members of parliament spearheaded a campaign to chime <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/independence-day-queen-elizabeth-ii-agrees-grandson-harry-wife-meghan-can-exit-senior-royal-role-274105">Britain</a> out of the EU, sounding the death knell for almost half a century of integration with the bloc.

But an attempt to have it enshrined in law that&nbsp;Big&nbsp;Ben&nbsp;would chime for&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;failed last week.

The celebrations for&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;day are set to divide Britain once again, a fitting conclusion to more than three years of angry debate about whether to leave the world’s largest trading bloc.

While supporters of leaving the bloc will celebrate with parties, there will be little joy in homes of pro-Europeans.

Brexit&nbsp;Party leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trump-enthusiastic-about-boris-johnsons-victory-but-it-wont-be-smooth-sailing-for-them-269348">Nigel Farage</a> is planning to host a party in Parliament Square on January 31 where supporters of leaving the EU would be able to hear&nbsp;Big&nbsp;Ben&nbsp;ring out.

More than 12,000 people applied for tickets in the first day after they were advertised last week.

Big&nbsp;Ben's tower, in the Palace of Westminster, has been under renovation since 2017 and the work is not due to be completed until 2021.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday proposed a crowdfunding campaign to allow Big Ben bell in parliament’s landmark clock tower to ring out when Britain is due to leave the European Union.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday proposed a crowdfunding campaign to allow Big Ben bell in parliament’s landmark clock tower to ring out when Britain is due to leave the European Union. The 13.7-tonne bell has been largely silent since 2017 while renovation work is carried out on the Elizabeth Tower which houses it, sounding only for important events such as New Year’s Eve celebrations. The prime minister was speaking after a House of Commons Commission dismissed the proposal for the bell to sound for Brexit because it would be too expensive. Johnson said it would cost 500,000 pounds ($648,450) to allow Big Ben to sound at 2300 GMT on January 31, the moment Brexit is officially due to take place. But he said people could donate cash to pay for it. "We are working up a plan so people can bung a bob for a Big Ben bong," Johnson told the BBC in an interview. "As everybody knows, Big Ben is being refurbished, they seem to have taken the clapper away. So we need to restore the clapper in order to bong Big Ben on Brexit night. And that is expensive." The prime minister's suggestion comes after a group of pro-Brexit members of parliament spearheaded a campaign to chime Britain out of the EU, sounding the death knell for almost half a century of integration with the bloc. But an attempt to have it enshrined in law that Big Ben would chime for Brexit failed last week. The celebrations for Brexit day are set to divide Britain once again, a fitting conclusion to more than three years of angry debate about whether to leave the world’s largest trading bloc. While supporters of leaving the bloc will celebrate with parties, there will be little joy in homes of pro-Europeans. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage is planning to host a party in Parliament Square on January 31 where supporters of leaving the EU would be able to hear Big Ben ring out. More than 12,000 people applied for tickets in the first day after they were advertised last week. Big Ben's tower, in the Palace of Westminster, has been under renovation since 2017 and the work is not due to be completed until 2021.

PM Boris Johnson proposes crowdfunding to allow Big Ben to bong for Brexit

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Crumbling UK Parliament building at risk of collapse, needs urgent repairs, say lawmakers

PM Boris Johnson proposes crowdfunding to allow Big Ben to bong for Brexit