PREMIUM --

An exterior view of Portcullis House, in London.

*24/07/02 An exterior view of Portcullis House, in London. Officials who spent 234 million of taxpayers' money on a state-of-the-art, energy efficient office block for MPs should have looked at alternatives before giving the green-light for construction, a report said today, Wednesday 24th July 2002. The cost of Portcullis House, more than 42 million over budget when it was completed two years ago, was justified by House of Commons authorities because it was energy-saving, low maintenance and would have a long life.