£100m Office Refurbishment.
THE House of Lords has been given approval to expand with an office block opposite parliament, costing £100m, despite plans to reduce the number of peers by almost half.
The offices, approved by Westminster council this month, will provide accommodation for 117 lords even though the government plans to cut more than 300 peers after the next election.
Lord Oakeshott, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, said: “It’s a phenomenally expensive way of doing things.
Peers need offices but the costs have spiralled while the economy is in recession and public finances are swamped in red ink.”Planning documents show the lords will be housed in style. They will enjoy their own wine cellar, restaurant and “e-library”
The redesigned entrance lobby will be lined with mosaic tiles, offices will have restored oak panelling and the roof will be covered with Cumberland slate. Solar panels will be installed on the roof to provide a third of the building’s hot water.
timesonline
