MPs have agreed to vacate the Palace of Westminster as essential multi-billion pound restoration works are carried out to the building.

A decision this week by the House of Lords to temporarily vacate the building means Parliament now backs a move out of the Palace, following the vote in the Commons last week.

The Lords agreed that "there is a clear and pressing need to repair the services in the Palace of Westminster" and that "a full and timely decant of the Palace is the best and the most cost-effective delivery option"

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Work will now begin to establish an Olympic-style delivery authority and Sponsor Board, set up through legislation, to manage the work.

Director of the Restoration and Renewal Programme, Tom Healey, said: "Both Houses of Parliament have now debated the best way forward for carrying out the increasingly urgent repairs to the Palace of Westminster. These debates represent an important milestone in the vital process of safeguarding the future of this iconic Grade 1 listed building.

"Work can now proceed to set up a Sponsor Board and Delivery Authority, initially in shadow form. Establishing these bodies as soon as possible is vital for detailed planning to begin, and for ensuring value for money for the taxpayer."

(LM)