Josh Fenton-Glynn

Departmental social media accounts and subscriptions are not centrally managed.

As with any media planning approach, channels are selected based on their ability to engage with relevant audiences in alignment with the government's strategic objectives.

The Cabinet Office is consistently tracking and reviewing spending on communications to ensure efficiency and that the appropriate strategy is implemented. We will not spend more than is needed to be effective and ensure best value for the taxpayer.

NHS England collects data on the potential value of surplus land on a national, not regional, basis.

Quarter 4 of the National Health Service’s 2023/24 annual report on surplus land showed that 128 plots of land were surplus, with the landowner actively seeking to dispose of the plot, whilst 199 plots were classified as potentially surplus, meaning the plot could be declared surplus by the landowner subject to identified issues or constraints being resolved. The estimated sales receipt for surplus or potentially surplus land stands at £830 million, but the investment required to unlock this potential would be £1.8 billion. Further details on NHS surplus land are available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-surplus-land/quarter-4-2023-24.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 October 2024 to Question 8599 for the information held on the cost of unoccupied whole sites. NHS England’s definition of unoccupied sites covers empty spaces, those not in use, and those closed awaiting disposal, and includes hospitals, health centres, mental health hubs, stores and warehouses, and administrative buildings.

The following table shows data that NHS England has collected and published on occupancy costs, the total expenses associated with occupying and operating buildings, including finance costs, hard and soft facilities management costs, and other management costs, for unoccupied National Health Service sites since 2021/22:

Source: NHS England

Note: NHS England does not hold pre-2021 data and is unable to allocate occupancy costs to parts of unused buildings or spaces. As such the above data represents only unoccupied whole sites. The NHS ENgland definition of unoccupied sites covers empty spaces, those not in use, and those closed awaiting disposal, and includes hospitals, health centres, mental health hubs, stores and warehouses, and administrative buildings.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future. This means not only upgrading but better utilising infrastructure across the entire NHS estate to reduce vacant or unused spaces and their associated costs over time.