To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the change in the cost to her Department of maintaining empty public buildings leased by it as a result of the changes to empty property rate relief that came into effect in April 2008. (267905)

The Home Office including its Executive Agencies made budgetary provision in the financial year 2008-09 for an additional £65,377 as a result of the changes to empty rates relief that came into effect on 1 April 2008.