Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Department's publication of spending over £25,000 in 2022, for what purpose his Department made payments to Savill UK Ltd for the rental of Harrington House in (a) March, (b) May, (c) September and (d) November 2022; and for what reason those payments increased from £68,1381.01 to £74,242.65 in November 2022.

The Department has leased Harrington House, Mandeville Road, Stoke Mandeville from BMW (UK) Trustees Limited for a term of 25 years from 25 March 1999. The permitted use is as accommodation for staff and/or students training at a National Health Service hospital or for such other residential purposes as the Landlord (BMW (UK) Trustees Limited) approves.

The Department sublets the property to Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and all rental costs are recovered from the trust. Savills UK Ltd are the managing agents for the Landlord and collect the rent on behalf of the Landlord, hence why payments are being made to them by the Department.

The payment increases are as a result of the annual rent reviews provided for in the lease which are linked to the retail prices index.

The lease expires in 2024 and will not be renewed.