Parliament faces 'grave risks' as more asbestos discovered ahead of revamp decision

Parliament has identified 500 additional asbestos-containing items since 2021, bringing the known total above 1,650. The items include insulation, roofing, floor tiles and ropes across the Palace of Westminster and the wider estate. This matters because asbestos can endanger health when its fibres become airborne, especially during building work or emergencies.

Asbestos is one of the main reasons Parliament needs refurbishment. Although much of it is concealed and classed as low risk, almost 200 items are medium risk and may need remedial work. Surveys carried out while preparing for the restoration project found more asbestos than previously recorded.

The discovery adds urgency to a decision already delayed for years. MPs and peers may vote on initial works costing up to £3bn, while possible full programmes could cost up to £40bn. Authorities say monitoring, training and further removal are planned.

The parliamentary estate contains more than 1,650 known asbestos items. This figure covers the Palace of Westminster and other parliamentary buildings. It has increased by 500 since 2021, even though 700 items were removed during the past five years.

Risk is not judged simply by whether asbestos exists. Under Health and Safety Executive guidelines, most identified items are low risk because they are concealed and less likely to be disturbed. Almost 200 are medium risk, meaning they may require remedial work. The list includes materials such as insulation, roofing, floor tiles and ropes.

The rising total reflects new surveys conducted for the planned refurbishment. Parliament says safety is its absolute priority and has improved monitoring and awareness training. The figures also show why asbestos management must be built into any restoration programme, rather than treated as a separate issue.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of fibrous minerals. It was used in many building materials because its fibres are strong and it is largely fireproof. The danger begins when materials containing it are damaged or disturbed and tiny fibres enter the air.

People can breathe in airborne fibres, which may lodge in the body and cause lasting inflammation and tissue damage. Over time, that damage can contribute to diseases including mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The article also notes that surrounding fire and heat can release fibres over long distances.

At Parliament, most known asbestos is concealed and classed as low risk, but almost 200 items are medium risk. The authorities are monitoring it, providing awareness training and planning further removal. A completely asbestos-free building is considered impractical without demolition or extensive damage to the building fabric.

Disturbing asbestos can release fibres into the air, creating a health risk for people working in or visiting Parliament. The risk is especially important in an old building, where materials may deteriorate and repairs may disturb concealed asbestos. Asbestos is therefore a safety issue as well as a restoration problem.

Renovation work could damage asbestos-containing insulation, tiles, roofing or ropes. Fire presents another danger: although asbestos is largely fireproof, surrounding heat can release fibres over long distances. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown warned that a small fire could spread through the building, while 24-hour fire patrols are used.

Kris Gledhill also highlighted possible disturbance from extreme weather, floods and fire. Parliament cannot realistically become asbestos-free without demolition or extensive damage. The practical response is stronger monitoring, safety advice, controlled removal and a refurbishment plan that manages these hazards.

MPs are being urged to decide because Parliament’s restoration has faced years of indecision and delay. The Commons Public Accounts Committee called it “crunch time” and said every additional year costs taxpayers £420m. Ageing buildings, asbestos and fire concerns make postponement increasingly risky.

The committee said MPs and peers already have enough information to vote before the year ends. The proposed vote would approve up to £3bn of initial works and narrow four current refurbishment options. A final decision would follow by 2030. Government whips have discussed a debate, but no date has been scheduled.

The programme could cost up to £40bn and take as long as 61 years. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown warned of Notre Dame-like flames destroying heritage or causing injuries. The decision therefore balances major cost and disruption against rising safety risks and further delay.

The refurbishment programme has four current options, with different arrangements for Parliament’s temporary home. One proposal would move MPs and peers out of the Palace for up to 24 years from 2032, at a cost of up to £15.6bn. Another would move only the House of Lords.

The Lords-only option is estimated to cost £39bn and take 61 years. Moving both Houses out could give builders greater access to the building, while keeping one House in place could create a longer, more complicated programme. The article does not give detailed costings for every option.

The planned vote would approve up to £3bn of initial works and narrow the choices. Delays in acquiring a temporary Lords home at the government-owned Queen Elizabeth II conference centre are already a critical setback. MPs would make a final decision by 2030.

Asbestos-related disease can develop long after a person encounters the material. When fibres are inhaled, they can remain in lung tissue and surrounding membranes. The body’s attempts to respond may cause persistent inflammation and cellular damage, which can eventually lead to cancer. Mesothelioma is one such aggressive cancer.

The article identifies mesothelioma as a disease linked to asbestos exposure and notes that Alice Mahon died of malignant mesothelioma in 2022. Her son, Kris Gledhill, said she had identified workplaces where she might have encountered asbestos, including the Palace of Westminster. The article does not state when her exposure occurred.

This long delay makes prevention important because exposure may not produce immediate warning signs. Parliament is improving monitoring and awareness training while planning further removal. Mesothelioma UK supports a national asbestos register and phased removal from public buildings, alongside health and safety advice for workers.