Portcullis House needs overhaul to ‘prevent glass falling on to people’

Report warns of urgent need to address severe structural failings' in roof of Westminster's parliamentary office building

The parliamentary office building Portcullis House requires a complete overhaul" of its roof and has severe structural failings" in its atrium glazing, warns an official parliamentary report obtained by the Observer.

The new study, commissioned by the parliamentary authorities, warns that rain is leaking into MPs' offices and recommends roof works likely to cost tens of millions pounds. It suggests an interim measure of adding netting to the underside of the atrium roof to prevent glass from falling on to people" in the event of cracked panes. The House of Commons said this weekend that netting was being installed in the atrium.