Commons may be facing relocation

Could Prime Minister's questions be moved out of the Commons?

A temporary replacement for the House of Commons might soon be needed, if a refurbishment plan is accepted.

Under the proposals, being looked at by parliamentary authorities, the Commons chamber would close for up to three years while the roof is repaired.

An alternative venue would have to be found where MPs could hold their debates and pass laws.

A spokesman admitted the plan was controversial. One MP has already described it as "totally unrealistic".

The proposals surfaced after the House of Commons Commission identified £250m-worth of repairs needed to be made to the 19th century cast iron roof.

Old and obsolete electrical wiring also needs to be replaced. Architects estimate the work could take up to 25 years if it was done during recess - but only three years if the MPs moved out altogether.

READ YOUR RELOCATION SUGGESTIONS:

As well as the Commons, the work of some select committees and possibly the House of Lords would be affected. But most MPs would be able to carry on working out of their offices which are in buildings adjacent to the Palace of Westminster.

If the MPs did decamp, an alternative Commons would need to be both secure and close enough for them to get to votes on time.

Obviously the people who are suggesting this have no idea how Parliament works Nicholas Winterton Conservative MP

It is understood four buildings might fulfil these requirements: the Church of England's headquarters at Church House; Methodist Central Hall; the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre and the old home of the Greater London Council - County Hall on the River Thames.

A spokesman for the House of Commons Commission, MP Nick Harvey, stressed the proposals had not yet been formally considered and could take years to be agreed.

'Blue skies thinking'

"Any plan to move MPs out of the House will be very controversial," he said.

"It is something they will want to debate about at length before they decide the best way forward."

"At the moment this is all very much blue skies thinking: we are looking at all the options."

One option could be for MPs to move across the river to the old County Hall

But Conservative MP Nicholas Winterton condemned the proposals as "an April Fools joke".

Mr Winterton, an MP for 36 years, said: "Obviously the people who are suggesting this have no idea how Parliament works. How will MPs be able to get to votes on time? How will they be able to attend a debate following a select committee?"

He said he was also surprised that such a major refurbishment of the House appeared to have been ignored for so long.

Mr Harvey said that the rules on how long MPs have to get to important votes might have to be changed.

Swimming pool

He said: "At the moment, MPs have 8 minutes to get into the chamber for votes. We might have to look at extending this time if the alternative venue was further away."

He insisted that carrying out the repair work in a short concentrated burst would be cheaper and more realistic compared to spreading it over 25 years.

"There's no reason why we shouldn't take the opportunity to carry out other refurbishments at the same time as we are repairing the roof," Mr Harvey said.

Other possible projects under consideration might include a new swimming pool for MPs and their staff, and the glassing over of one of the open courtyards in the Palace to create a new Atrium-style meeting place.

If MPs did move out, it wouldn't be for the first time. During the Second World War German bombs destroyed the Commons debating chamber, forcing MPs to hold their debates in nearby Church House.

Members also worked out of the Park Lane Hotel for a short time.

Here are a selection of your relocation suggestions...

Perhaps it is time for a new modern debating chamber that is not so adversarial in design. The current archaic structure and rowdy destructive atmosphere may please politicians but it personifies and complements the archaic structure of our so called representative democracy.
Paul Beevers, Basingstoke

They should all be relocated to the Job Centre.
B.Nelson, CARNFORTH

I'm guessing moving the Commons into the House of Lords and moving the Lords (which is rarely packed to capacity)into Westminster Hall (the 2nd Commons debating chamber) isn't an option?
David Bourne, Aberystwyth

Why don't they all decamp to Brussels? The Commons is now little more than a regional assembly dealing with delegated legislation from the European Commission so it would make perfect sense!
Simon Ladd, Enfield, UK

A swimming pool? Is this the real reason why taxes are increasing?
Pete, Hertfordshire

Parliament should move permanently out of London. It creates a disproportionate pull to the south east in politics and policy. We need an equivalent to the New York/Washington or Sydney/Canberra situation. How about York which is central and suitably historic, and which should bring some much needed economic growth to the North, and perhaps finally some improved transport links with Scotland.
Rob Williamson, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

A rolling rota of 6 months in Iraq and 6 in Afghanistan should focus the minds of our great leaders. If they choose to invade any other countries we can include those too.
Gareth Thomas, West Yorkshire

County Hall without a doubt. It has the grandeur and is close enough that we won't be stung too much by the MPs and their hangers-on for expenses. But if I hear anybody mention "swimming pool" again there will be protests. Where did that ridiculous notion come from? Do the postmen get pools?
Kieran Aust, Melksham, Wilts

They should use the dome
Rob, Letchworth

Great, how about just outside Glasgow
John , London

Brussels. Cut out the middle man.
Bryan Mills, Derby, UK

The further away the better
Charles Peters, London

The Falkland Islands as they are out of touch with reality at the best of times
M Steedman, Edinburgh

The current parliament building, which isn't nearly as old as it looks, is utterly unsuitable. It's time we had a new building, so perhaps this is the opportunity we need to move our parliament to a new, modern home which reflects its purpose - to represent the people, not to keep us out behind high walls and gothic architecture.
Graham, Brighton

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