Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many buildings his Department sold in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) does not own the Freehold on any property and has therefore made no sales of this nature.

The Department leases property as below:

A) 3 Whitehall Place, London (whole building) – due for lease-break review in 2021 (private landlord)

B) 55 Whitehall, London (whole building) – due for review in 2070 (Crown property)

C) Kings Buildings, London (three floors) – due for review in 2015 (public landlord)

D) One Victoria Street, London (part of one floor) – due for review in 2015 (other Government Department as landlord)

E) Atholl House, Aberdeen (two floors) – lease due to expire in 2016 (other Government Department as landlord)

As part of Cabinet Office property guidelines, Departments are required to vacate properties at the review date where possible. The preferred alternative is to share existing Government property with other Departments.

DECC has followed this guidance where applicable and will seek to vacate properties (C) and (D) above within 2015.

As the lease in property (E) expires in 2016 DECC have already started to consult with other Departments on the possibility of sharing existing buildings with ongoing leases in the city.