House of Lords Terminates £5 Million Traffic Marshal Programme
The House of Lords has decided to axe a contentious team of 'traffic marshals' who have been patrolling Parliament's internal roadways since 2019. This move comes after the scheme accumulated a total expenditure exceeding £5 million, sparking widespread criticism over its necessity and exorbitant cost.
Safety Measures Under Scrutiny
Initially deployed on safety grounds during extensive renovation works at the Westminster estate, the marshals were positioned at key points to prevent accidents involving politicians and aides. However, the maximum speed limit on these tight internal roads is a mere 5mph, leading many to question whether such an expensive safety intervention was justified.
Figures obtained through a freedom of information request reveal that the cost of covering alleged trouble spots across the eight-acre site has now surpassed £5 million in total. A 2024 report highlighted that each marshal was costing taxpayers approximately £93,000 annually, despite most being paid around the minimum wage.
Transition to Alternative Safety Solutions
A restricted House of Lords report, recently disclosed, indicates that with much of the renovation work now completed, the majority of traffic marshals will be removed. They will be replaced by more cost-effective measures, including pedestrian barriers, speed humps, and enhanced signage, which are now deemed sufficient to ensure the safety of elected officials and their staff.
Tory peer Lord Hayward, a long-time critic of the programme, expressed relief at the decision. He stated, 'I'm pleased that at last we are to see the removal of most of the traffic marshals which have cost the taxpayer an unnecessary £2 million over the last three years. At last we have seen some sense.' He also criticised the classification of the report as 'restricted', calling it unjustified.
Ongoing Use for Major Projects
Despite the scaling back, the House of Lords confirmed that traffic marshals will continue to be utilised for specific major projects within the estate. A spokesman emphasised, 'The safety of all users of and visitors to the Parliamentary Estate is vitally important. As some major projects have now concluded, we are now looking to use other proportionate and cost-effective safety measures instead.'
The programme was part of the broader Restoration and Renewal initiative aimed at refurbishing the deteriorating Palace of Westminster. During a 2024 House of Lords finance committee meeting, it was revealed that employing just nine marshals in 2023 cost £700,000, plus £140,000 in VAT, totalling £840,000. This equated to the staggering £93,000 per marshal figure.
Peers, including Baroness Brinton, raised concerns about the disparity between costs and wages, noting that many marshals earned minimum wage and had to cover their own training and security badge expenses. An FOI request in March last year found that £4.3 million had been spent, with additional costs subsequently pushing the total beyond £5 million.
This decision marks a significant shift in Parliament's approach to safety management, prioritising fiscal responsibility while maintaining essential protections for those within the historic Westminster grounds.
