British MPs to be evacuted under terrorist attack

British MPs will be evacuated to a home outside London in the event of a "catastrophic" terrorist attack on the capital, a newspaper reported yesterday, citing leaked plans.

All members of the upper and lower chambers plus police, catering staff and the media would be transferred to the 110ha Hampshire estate within three hours of an emergency, the Sunday Times said.

A makeshift chamber would be set up in a 17th-century building that has been used as a police training college since the 1960s. It would be able to house 360 MPs - about half the number in the House of Commons - and would be shared with members of the House of Lords.