Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review his departmental estate in order to reduce costs; and if he will make a statement.

The Departmental estate has been undergoing significant rationalisation and cost reduction. In summary the Department and its Arms Length Bodies have reduced our estates and facilities costs from £183.1 million in 2009-10 to £121.7 million in 2012-13.

The latest State of the Estate report (SofTE) reports annually on progress made during the year in improving the efficiency of the Government’s Civil Estate. This is available online at:

www.gov.uk/government/collections/state-of-the-estate

The Department’s Property Delivery Plan, refreshed annually, sets out how the Department will continue to reduce its estate and costs beyond 2015. This plan is due to be reviewed at the end of 2014.