Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 24 May 2021 to Question 3807, on Cabinet Office: Buildings, what progress has been made over the last twelve months on developing plans by the Government Property Agency to refurbish No. 36 Whitehall for use by civil servants; when that building was vacated by its last public service occupants; what the annual cost to the public purse in respect of (a) rates, (b) maintenance and utilities and (c) security relating to that building has been since that date; when he plans to provide the commercially sensitive information referred to in that Answer to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield; whether he has plans to visit No. 36 Whitehall; and if he will make a statement.

The GPA has developed detailed designs for the building to be refurbished for use by Civil Servants. Records indicate the building was vacated in 2012.

As at 31 March 2021:

• Rates: £0 per annum

• Maintenance and security costs: £3.5k per annum

From 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022:

• Rates: £0

• Maintenance - principally for one-off urgent Health and Safety works: £724k

I visited 36 Whitehall on 4 May 2022. I have written to my Right Honourable Friend with regards to the letter he was expecting.