Social Security Scotland offices and costs: FOI release

Information requested

You asked:

“Who is Social Security Scotland currently renting office space from whilst negotiations on a permanent office solution are ongoing?” and “How much has been spent on office accommodation for Social Security Scotland, broken down by month, whilst negotiations on a permanent office solution are ongoing?”

Response

Social Security Scotland occupies several properties in Dundee and Glasgow to ensure adequate accommodation is in place to support its requirements. Long term requirements will continue to be monitored and Social Security Scotland has already confirmed security of tenure over large modern office buildings for the next 20 years in Dundee and up to 10 years in Glasgow.

For the purposes of the answering this request ‘rental of office space’ has been interpreted as being the commercial lease arrangements for accommodation that Social Security Scotland holds. Social Security Scotland currently has lease arrangements for accommodation in place with the following:

• Dundee City Council
• Glasgow City Council
• UK Government’s Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government

Question 2

The monthly rent and associated costs of providing accommodation for Social Security Scotland are detailed in the table below. The monthly cost has been calculated by dividing the annual costs by 12, as billing frequencies tend to be quarterly rather than monthly; please note that all figures are inclusive
of VAT.

Time period	Monthly amount (GROSS – including VAT)
June 2018 – February 2019	£97,296
March 2019 – August 2020	£111,816

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.