Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his written ministerial statement of 27 October 2026 on the National School of Government and Public Services, what the (a) capital and (b) running costs are of converting and operating The Hawkhills, Easingwold, as the residential campus of the National School; and how many residential places it will provide.

The Hawkhills campus currently operates as a fully functioning residential training facility, providing 102 en-suite bedrooms, conference suites and classrooms to support the UK Resilience Academy under an existing Cabinet Office service contract running until April 2028.

We are currently exploring the future estate requirements of the National School at The Hawkhills and elsewhere to inform planning across these sites. Longer-term operational cost allocations will be finalised alongside the development of the National School’s operating model.

Our estates requirements are subject to formal business case approvals, planning, and standard commercial procurement processes to ensure rigorous value for money for the taxpayer. Site running costs are currently met through existing Cabinet Office baseline contract arrangements, and longer-term operational cost allocations will be finalised alongside the development of the National School’s operating model.