MPs are pumping £300,000 into a PR drive after voting for a £4billion restoration of the Palace of Westminster.
The parliamentary authorities are planning to spend the money on distributing leaflets and other ‘promotional’ material to members of the public, schools, and libraries.
The push has a broad goal of enhancing ‘understanding’ of parliament, but will be seen as a charm offensive ahead of the controversial refurbishment project.
The plans, which will see politicians move out of the building entirely while essential repairs and improvements are made, are likely to be tricky to sell to the public at a time of austerity.
The promotional tender, worth £250,000 plus VAT, was issued on February 16, just over a fortnight after MPs voted in favour of the multi-billion pound overhaul.
Parliament is crumbling with parts of the stonework falling off – posing a potentially deadly threat to those who work there
The Elizabeth Tower, housing Big Ben, is already clad in scaffolding for repairs (pictured)
On February 6 the decision was endorsed by the House of Lords.
The contract, which is due to begin later this year, is for a firm to ‘store, manage and distribute publications and other promotional items to locations throughout the UK’ in order to create a ‘better understanding and knowledge of the House’.
‘The items covered by this contract range from traditional leaflets and brochures to report-style booklets and other promotional materials,’ the tender document says.
‘The service shall include bulk deliveries to organisations such as schools and universities, other institutions such as libraries as well as to members of the public.
‘The contract shall be for an initial period of two years, with options to extend for up to a further two years.’
Such work was previously organised in house, but is now being outsourced as the scale is stepped up.
A spokesman for the Parliamentary authorities insisted the tender was not connected to the decision on restoration.
‘Parliament is looking for a supplier to manage the distribution of resources to partners across the UK for its extensive public outreach campaigns, including UK Parliament Week and EqualiTeas which are expected to involve hundreds of thousands of people from across the country this year,’ the spokesman said.
‘This tender and the distribution of resources is absolutely not connected to the restoration of the Palace of Westminster.
‘The tender process has been underway for some time, commenced well before the restoration debates took place and is completely unconnected.’
At the end of last month the Commons voted 234 to 135, a majority of just 16, in favour of endorsing the work of a joint committee of MPs and Peers on what to do about the dilapidated state of the building.
It will be the first time since the war that MPs and peers move out of the Palace of Westminster, with the restoration work expected to take at least six years.
However, there are fears that costs could soar and the length of the project extend.
At the end of last month MPs voted to endorse a ‘full decant’ during the multi-billion pound restoration project
Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda, pictured in the basement of Parliament, has warned that parliament poses a very real safety risk to those who visit and work there
A new delivery authority will now be set up to plan the massive programme of work, expected to cost at least £4billion and leave MPs and Peers in temporary accommodation elsewhere on the Parliamentary estate for years.
Officials have spent years trying to persuade MPs of the urgent need to evacuate the building for a major overhaul before a disastrous fire or flood destroys it.
While the main project will not start before the next election in 2022, emergency works are already underway.
The Elizabeth Tower, housing Big Ben, is clad in scaffolding for repairs, the Northern Estate is being renovated, and the historic Westminster Hall is also being worked on.