Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the (1) cost of, and (2) justification for, the cladding covering the scaffolding on the headquarters of MI5, Thames House; and what plans they have to recycle the cladding materials once the work on Thames House is complete.

As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies including the security of their buildings. The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament scrutinises the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of the intelligence agencies on behalf of Parliament.