Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to encourage Government-funded agencies and departments to move their offices outside London.

Plans are in place for the creation of multi-departmental government Hubs in strategic locations outside London. These will further consolidate our office estate, whilst helping to attract and retain staff by stronger collaboration between departments and enabling staff to grow careers locally.

We are consolidating our estate in central London and, since 2010, have reduced the number of offices from 181 to 54. Rationalisation will continue, enabling more multi-departmental use of HQ buildings and civil servant moves to peripheries where property costs are lower.