A NEW front door to the House of Lords, costing nearly £10 million, has been branded a “scandalous waste” of taxpayers’ money after ongoing issues left it unusable without staff assistance.
The Peers’ Entrance underwent a £9.6 million security upgrade in 2023 – 60% over the original £6.1 million estimate – but remains inaccessible to disabled peers without help.
A permanent security officer is still required to operate it, costing around £2500 per week.
The Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, has now asked Lord Morse – former head of the National Audit Office – to investigate.
According to reports from the Standard, Lord McFall raised concerns in the letter about broader failures in parliamentary departments and unclear accountability. He questioned whether the problems stem from manufacturing and installation flaws, or poor planning and changing requirements.
He also called for clarity on how the initial cost estimate was determined, the reasons behind its escalation and the ongoing expenses, including staffing.
McFall emphasized the need to assess the quality of decision-making and whether user requirements were properly considered.
Senior Deputy Speaker Lord Gardiner of Kimble said: “It is unacceptable that the Peers’ Entrance does not operate as it should. The commission has directed urgent work to resolve this.
"The cost to remedy defects will not be borne by the House and will be met by Parliament's contractors."
Former Tory minister Lord Robathan said: “I do not hold the Senior Deputy Speaker responsible for this scandal, but it is a scandalous waste of public money.”
