# More asbestos found in Parliament, as MPs urged to get on with revamp

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/more-asbestos-found-in-parliament-as-mps-urged-to-get-on-with-revamp/
- Published: 2026-11-05T03:05:34+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T03:21:50+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Politics (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqly0k8l5mdvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Culture, Fashion, Government, Politics

## Key points

- More than 1,650 asbestos items are recorded across Parliament.
- Almost 200 items are classed as medium risk.
- Delays to refurbishment cost taxpayers £420m a year.

## Summary

More than 1,650 asbestos-containing items are now known to be present across the Palace of Westminster and the wider parliamentary estate, 500 more than in 2021. The discovery adds urgency to calls for MPs to approve a major refurbishment, as ageing buildings pose safety and heritage risks and delays are costly.

Surveys for the proposed restoration found further asbestos, even though 700 items have been removed in the past five years. Most known items are classed as low risk because they are concealed, while almost 200 are medium risk and may need remedial work. The refurbishment could cost up to £40bn and take 61 years; a parliamentary committee says each year of delay costs taxpayers £420m. Parliament says it is improving monitoring and training, while campaigners call for a precautionary approach and phased removal from public buildings.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.