MPs issued jaw-dropping asbestos warning as dozens exposed on parliamentary estate

The House of Commons authorities are in the process of contacting dozens of workers in UK parliament over concerns they may have been exposed to asbestos last autumn.

The incident, which is believed to be as a result of maintenance work in Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle’s Speaker’s House, has been described to Politico as “a huge failure of safety systems” by someone familiar with the maintenance of parliament.

Parliamentary officials have said the incident was as a result of fire safety work being carried out.

A House of Commons spokesperson told Politico: “The House is currently working with our contractors, supply chain and the Health and Safety Executive following an incident of possible asbestos exposure on the estate.

“A temporary pause in construction projects was implemented to ensure lessons learned from this incident are rapidly implemented.”

In 2018 MPs supported both Houses of Parliament moving out during the multibillion-pound restoration programme.

They committed to a “full and timely decant” after deleting sections from a motion which would have allowed them to kick into the long grass the need for “comprehensive works” at the Unesco World Heritage Site after a report found that the building was “riddled with asbestos”.

A body would also be established to provide up-to-date costings of the work and a “realistic” timetable for the repairs.

It also guarantees both Houses will return to their “historic” chamber “as soon as possible”