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The Speaker of the House of Commons has criticised delays to repairs at the Palace of Westminster, warning the approval process is holding back work to protect the historic building.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle told BBC Radio 4's The Week in Westminster that his "biggest frustration" was work not getting under way. "We spend more time doing surveys," he said. "Instead of doing surveys, why don't we start repairing the building?" He described the current approval process as "putting ourselves in handcuffs".

Committee warns of "crunch time"

His remarks follow a warning this week from the Commons Public Accounts Committee that the restoration programme has reached "crunch time". The committee said the project could cost up to £40 billion and take 61 years, with every extra year of delay adding £420 million.

Committee chairman Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP warned the Palace could be left exposed to a devastating fire, comparing the risk with the 2019 Notre-Dame blaze.

Vote expected before the new year

Sir Lindsay criticised legislation under which major renovations cannot begin until Parliament has approved the project's full scope and funding. The BBC understands government whips have discussed holding a debate and vote before the new year, but no date has been scheduled.

A vote would decide whether to proceed with up to £3 billion of initial works and narrow four options, ahead of a final decision by 2030. One option would see MPs and peers move out for up to 24 years from 2032, costing up to £15.6 billion. Another would move only the House of Lords out, costing £39 billion and taking 61 years.

The refurbishment body's chairman has defended the costs, telling the BBC: "We're already spending £150 million a year trying to keep the thing standing."