Parliament restoration delays 'frustrating', says Commons Speaker

The Speaker of the House of Commons has expressed "frustration" with the lack of progress on restoration to protect the Palace of Westminster. Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the BBC the current process for approving essential renovations to Parliament amounted to "putting ourselves in handcuffs", and said more time was spent "doing surveys" than getting repairs under way.

The Commons public accounts committee this week warned it was "crunch time" for the ailing building's restoration, which could cost up to £40bn and take 61 years. It said every additional year of delay cost taxpayers £420m, while its chairman warned the Palace could be left vulnerable to a devastating fire like that which engulfed the Notre Dame.

Sir Lindsay said his "biggest frustration" with the Victorian building's restoration was that "we're not getting on with the work". "We spend more time doing surveys," he told BBC Radio 4's The Week in Westminster .