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<p>Work is currently underway in Westminster Hall to complete phase three of the conservation
programme. This includes: the refurbishment of the lantern; removing the extensive
dust deposits from the roof timbers; minor repairs to the interior of the roof to
stabilize decorative elements and tracery; fire protection improvements; and new lighting.</p><p>The
principal contractor for the programme is Mitie, who have in turn subcontracted the
refurbishment of the lantern, cleaning of dust deposits and the minor repairs to the
heritage and conservation specialists, DBR Limited. The programme of work is supervised
by heritage architects Donald Insall Associates.</p><p>There is a large body of academic
material on the Hall already available, with principal studies conducted between 1854
and 2016. Both information from this, together with extensive condition surveys, have
been used as the basis for the specification for the current work and any further
survey in this regard would be of no evident value to Parliament. It should be noted
that the roof is an example of ‘standing archaeology’ – that is, it will be accessible
for the foreseeable future as it has been in the past. The obligation to record the
repairs and to deposit the records in the archives will be undertaken by the consultant
conservation architect (Donald Insall Associates), specialist conservators, the in-house
Architecture & Heritage team and Historic England. This information will be made
available to interested parties and therefore no further archaeological supervision
is necessary.</p><p>I have sent the hon. Lady a copy of the list of references to
studies of the roof, and placed a copy in the Library.</p>
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