Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 21
29th Report - Condition of Government property
Published 11 Jun 2025
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Condition of Government properties All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
There is a shortage of skilled property management professionals across departments. If the perceived value of working in the public sector property profession has declined, or levels of pay are no longer considered attractive, his would be a matter of concern for the long term health of the profession. The NAO reported that the government set the ambitions in its property strategy for 2022 to 2030 to achieve 90% accreditation of property professionals at grade 7 and above by 2030 and to grow and approve early talent programmes. The strategy does not address future skills resilience or how property professionals should be placed across the civil service to ensure all departments are able to strategically manage their assets.42 The Cabinet Office has hit its recruitment targets by recruiting 302 apprentices, 61 graduates and 60 property surveyors by September 2024, and is on track to meet its accreditation rate ambitions.43 The OGP stated that it is providing cross–training programmes for professionals to update their skills, abilities and capabilities, in addition to holding regular forums to share best practice and fill gaps.44 36 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.11–3.12 37 Q 67 38 C&AG’s Report, para 3.12 39 Letter from the Cabinet Office, dated 11 April 2025 40 Q 53 41 Letter from the Cabinet Office, dated 11 April 2025 42 C&AG’s Report, para 4.2 43 Qq 30, 76; C&AG’s Report, Figure 11 44 Q 30 15
From: Public Accounts Committee, 29th Report - Condition of Government property (HC 641), 11 June 2025
Government response
Latest Treasury Minutes progress report to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty-ninth Report of Session 2024-26
The government responded to the whole report on 4 June 2026 (deadline 11 August 2025).
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Twenty ninth report from Session 2024-26
Published 18 September 2025.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government states that it agrees with the Committee's recommendations in each area of the report, with target implementation dates ranging from autumn 2025 to the 2027-28 annual reports and accounts.
- On reporting backlogs in annual reports and accounts, the government agrees, but says this is "Subject to the Cabinet Office confirming the standard definition and calculation methods"; HM Treasury will "aim to make changes" to the FReM by November 2026.
- On risk analysis in Strategic Asset Management Plans, the government agrees (target: autumn 2026). The Cabinet Office intends to strengthen the position on strategic or major risks as an initial step, then to consult departments on how far explicit portfolio risk analysis "is practicable".
- The Office of Government Property will write to the Committee by April 2026 on support to departments, but states that central support "will be limited" unless departments support the centre to act on their behalf and pool resources.
- The Cabinet Office will write to the Committee no later than October 2025 on longer-term maintenance planning, and by July 2026 on improvement and assessment of departmental plans.