Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to figure 16 on page 44 of the National Audit Office's report, Progress on the government estate strategy (HC 1131), published on 25 April 2017, what the evidential basis is for the £40 million in savings made from the reduction in Environment Agency depot costs.

The figure is based on the Warehouse, Storage & Depots portfolio strategy and refers to potential benefits arising from implementing a networked logistics capability for EA that would result in a consolidated number of depots, and more intensive use of capital equipment. This strategy is being further developed with departments.