More than £450k spent on battling mice and moths at Houses of Parliament – as taxpayers stump up bill
THE Houses of Parliament has been plagued by a costly infestation of mice and moths, with more than £450,000 of taxpayer's money spent on pest control since 2020.
Figures show that money spent on tackling the pests has been gradually increasing, rising from £109,563 in 2020/21 to £126,162 in 2022/23.
So far in 2023/24, parliamentary authorities have already spent £102,850 in tackling the issue.
In the past year alone, the iconic parliamentary building has been battleground, with a staggering 549 pest control instances reported.
This included 348 instances of mice, 61 of moths and 33 related to flies.
While mice and flies can pose a serious health risk to humans, there are concerns moths could "significant damage" many historic furnishings and textiles in the building.
Figures show the number of moths infestations have more than doubled in just two years, with just 27 infestations reported in 2021.
There are currently 751 moth monitoring devices installed across estate.
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The figures were revealed in answers to parliamentary questions submitted by Lib Dem frontbencher Sarah Olney.
Ms Olney said: “People often say that Conservative infighting in Parliament is akin to watching rats in a sack, but now we know they have some very real competition.
“The Palace of Westminster is the heart of British democracy, and these figures raise questions.
"Mice may pose a significant health risk and moths could cause significant damage to the many historic furnishings and textiles housed in the building.
“It is important that action is taken to ensure these historical items are protected and that Parliament remains a safe and clean place to work as quickly as possible.”
A Parliament spokesperson said: “Parliament is a safe place to work, with robust hygiene processes in place. We are committed to maintaining a humane and ethical pest control programme, focussed on preventative measures and the use of various control methods.
"Increases in costs can be attributed to both inflation and increased building work on the Estate, though value for money remains a key consideration and we continue to follow all regulatory obligations.”