Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 36
36
We asked about the Cabinet Office’s role in co-ordinating government office space.
Conclusion
We asked about the Cabinet Office’s role in co-ordinating government office space. HMRC said it relies on the controls operated by the Cabinet Office, who look at all new property deals and lease extensions, and make sure those needing space are pointed at HMRC’s buildings. HMRC said space would be let to central government organisations 60 Qq 55–58 61 Q 59 62 Q 65 63 HC Committee of Public Accounts, HMRC performance 2019–20, Thirty-Sixth Report of Session 2019–21, HC 690, January 2021, page 6 64 C&AG’s Report, para 2.19 65 Q 47 66 Qq 46, 48, 51 67 Note from the HM Revenue & Customs, received 22 December 2021. HMRC Performance in 2020–21 19 first, other public sector organisations next and then the private sector. It considered that Cabinet Office’s controls were currently working well, and it said the Cabinet Office needed to continue to make them work.68 68 Qq 51–53 20 HMRC Performance in 2020–21
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
8.4 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 8.5 HMRC have reviewed its space requirements following their shift to hybrid office-home working, to establish any surplus capacity, and will continue to manage this to ensure estate capacity aligns with current and future workforce plans. Where they have identified surplus space, they have had significant success in working with GPA to enable other government departments to occupy the space, for example Cabinet Office will have their second head- office in HMRC’s Glasgow hub at 1 Atlantic Square. At appropriate intervals, HMRC will provide GPA/OGP with details of the amount and location of any remaining surplus space in their buildings, to inform the wider Government Estate Plan.