HC Deb 19 December 1991 vol 201 c228W
Mr. Ken Hargreaves

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the design of the next phase of the new parliamentary building; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heseltine

The consultant architect appointed by my Department, Michael Hopkins and Partners, completed their preliminary sketch plan stage proposals in October. These were presented to the New Building Sub Committee which endorsed the way the scheme is developing. A text of the letter I received from the Chairman, the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell) and of my reply along with copies of Hopkins' report are being placed in the Library.

Design work, and discussions with London Underground Ltd. on the integration of the scheme and the proposed new Westminster station are continuing. It is planned to publish the final sketch plan proposals early next year.

The letter from the hon. Member for Ogmore and my reply to him are as follows.