Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 35
35
Given the change in HMRC’s need for office space, and wider changes in the commercial...
Conclusion
Given the change in HMRC’s need for office space, and wider changes in the commercial property market, we asked HMRC whether its estate strategy was right for the future. HMRC told us its strategy was the right one and was part of making HMRC fit for the future by providing a high-quality estate. It also told us that the quality and location of the estate made it easy to offer to other government departments, as part of the broader move of civil service roles from London into other parts of the UK. HMRC said it had already let space, and there was currently a queue of organisations also wishing to let space.66 It said it has leased 583,000 meters squared of space of which 107,000 meters squared (18%) has been “signed up to” by Other Government Departments. HMRC expects the amount of space it sublets in 2023–24 to increase to 117,000 meters squared (23% of the total space it expects to lease).67
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
8: PAC conclusion: Changed working practices have left HMRC with more office space than it needs. 8a: PAC recommendation: HMRC should: • work with Cabinet Office to draw up a plan for how they intend to make sure that spare HMRC office space is not left vacant, and write to the Committee explaining the plan within 6 months of this report. 8.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2022 8.2 HMRC anticipated changes in its office space requirements and negotiated flexibility such as assignment, subletting and sharing of occupation arrangements into its regional centre leases, which are in key locations across the UK. The department will continue to work with the Government Property Agency (GPA) and the Places for Growth Programme in the Cabinet Office to ensure that any surplus office space in staffed buildings across the HMRC estate is not left vacant. 8.3 HMRC will report back to the Committee by the end of July 2022.