Asbestos fear in House of Commons's ventilation system

AIR CONDITIONING in the House of Commons chamber has been permanently turned down amid fears that a “lethal level” of asbestos is lurking in the ventilation system.

house of commons asbestos air conditioning ventilation systemGETTY

Air conditioning in the House of Commons chamber has been turned down amid fears of asbestos

According to a senior Whitehall source, House of Commons authorities have previously been forced to consider an emergency evacuation of the Commons after deadly levels of asbestos were registered in the chamber. 

Despite a second reading being ordered, which suggested the quantities had been reduced to a “safe level” the authorities have taken the decision to permanently turn down the air condition system to reduce any risk. 

This comes just days after a committee of MPs urged members and peers to vacate the crumbling Palace of Westminster for at least six years while vital repair work is carried out. 

Warning that the Unesco World Heritage Site faces the prospect of a “catastrophic failure”, the influential Public Accounts Committee (PAC) describes the historic building as being in a state of “extreme disrepair”. 

house of commons asbestos air conditioning ventilation systemPA

Gas pipes and a mass of cables in the Palace of Westminster

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The report claimed: “The risk of catastrophic failure is high and growing with fire, water, sewage inundation, and electrical failure among the most likely causes. It must be repaired.” 

The risk of catastrophic failure is high and growing with fire

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

The committee said a proposal put forward in 2016 by the joint committee of the Commons and the Lords represented the “most economical, effective and efficient” option for restoring the palace. 

The plan involves a “full decant” of the premises for around six years while the vital work is carried out at an estimated cost of £3.5billion to £3.9billion. 

house of commons asbestos air conditioning ventilation systemGETTY

The Public Accounts Committee warned the building faces the prospect of a 'catastrophic failure'

“Delaying a decision on how that work should be carried out will only add to the costs and risks,” said the PAC chairwoman and Labour MP Meg Hillier. 

However, a group of MPs led by Tory grandee Edward Leigh are campaigning to remain in Parliament while the work is carried out and will vote against the proposal when it comes before Parliament in the coming weeks. An insider said a partial evacuation would be expensive and risky. 

“Like every building of this age, it is rife with asbestos but of course asbestos is only dangerous if it is disturbed,” the source said. 

“It would be risky to remove the asbestos from one part of the building while people are still working in the other part of the building.”

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