Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019

2 The Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body

(1) A body corporate called the Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body (referred to in this Act as “the Sponsor Body”) is established for the purpose of having overall responsibility for the Parliamentary building works.

(2) The Sponsor Body’s duties are—

(a) to determine the strategic objectives of the Parliamentary building works;

(b) to make strategic decisions relating to the carrying out of the Parliamentary building works;

(c) to form the Delivery Authority (see section 3);

(d) to fund the Delivery Authority (see section 9);

(e) to require the Delivery Authority to formulate proposals relating to the design, cost and timing of Palace restoration works;

(f) to require the Delivery Authority, when considering the award of a contract in respect of the carrying out of the Parliamentary building works, to have regard to—

(i) the prospective contractor’s policy relating to corporate social responsibility, and

(ii) the prospective contractor’s policies and procedures relating to employment (including in relation to the blacklisting of employees);

(g) to oversee the activities of the Delivery Authority in connection with the carrying out of the Parliamentary building works;

(h) to deal with matters relating to completion of the Parliamentary building works, including the making of arrangements for the handing over of the buildings to which those works relate;

(i) to promote public understanding of the purposes of the Restoration and Renewal Programme.

(3) In performing the duties under subsection (2)(a) and (b) in relation to Palace restoration works, the Sponsor Body must consult members of each House of Parliament in accordance with the strategy under section 5.

(4) In performing the duties under subsection (2)(a) and (b), the Sponsor Body must make arrangements for seeking the views of—

(a) people employed in or for the purposes of either House of Parliament,

(b) people working for members of either House of Parliament (whether or not for payment), and

(c) members of the public.

(5) In exercising its functions, the Sponsor Body must have regard to—

(a) the need to ensure that the Parliamentary building works represent good value for money;

(b) the need to ensure that the Parliamentary building works are carried out with a view to ensuring the safety and security of people who work in Parliament and members of the public;

(c) the need to protect the environment and to contribute to achieving sustainable development;

(d) the need to ensure that any place in which either House of Parliament is located while the Parliamentary building works are carried out is accessible to people visiting the place for the purpose of watching proceedings or attending meetings with members of either House;

(e) the need to ensure that—

(i) any place in which either House of Parliament is located while the Parliamentary building works are carried out, and

(ii) (after completion of those works) all parts of the Palace of Westminster used by people working in it or open to people visiting it,

are accessible to people with disabilities;

(f) the need for improved visitor access to the Palace of Westminster after completion of the Parliamentary building works;

(g) the need to ensure that educational and other facilities are provided for people visiting the Palace of Westminster after completion of the Parliamentary building works;

(h) the need to ensure that the Parliamentary building works are carried out with a view to facilitating improved public engagement with Parliament and participation in the democratic process (especially by means of remote access to Parliament’s educational and outreach facilities and programmes);

(i) the special architectural, archaeological and historical significance of the Palace of Westminster;

(j) the need to ensure that opportunities to secure economic or other benefits of the Parliamentary building works are available in all areas of the United Kingdom.

(6) Schedule 1 contains further provision about the Sponsor Body.