When the Chief Secretary to the Treasury approved the acquisition of the Northeye site on 25 March 2023, he noted that the value-for-money case was marginal and based on assumptions that were highly uncertain.71 The cost of remediating the building of asbestos and removing contaminated ground estimated at £20 million did not feature in the Accounting Officer’s advice.72 The National Audit Office reported that full assessments of the level of contamination and feasibility of the site were not ...

When the Chief Secretary to the Treasury approved the acquisition of the Northeye site on 25 March 2023, he noted that the value-for-money case was marginal and based on assumptions that were highly uncertain.71 The cost of remediating the building of asbestos and removing contaminated ground estimated at £20 million did not feature in the Accounting Officer’s advice.72 The National Audit Office reported that full assessments of the level of contamination and feasibility of the site were not undertaken before the Home Office exchanged contracts with the vendors. In our evidence session, we questioned the Home Office about why a ministerial di Type: conclusion | Number: 22 | Response status: under_consideration