THE name of the new UK Government hub in Edinburgh has been revealed – Queen Elizabeth House.
The base, near busy Waverley railway station and the historic Royal Mile, will bring together around 3000 civil servants from a range of UK Government departments.
These include the Scotland Office, HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs, the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Office of the Advocate General.
Staff are due to move into the “ultra-modern” space from spring next year.
It spans seven stories and 190,000 square feet and facilities include a purpose-built Cabinet Room for the use of the UK Government – the first to be created outwith London.
READ MORE: Mhairi Black: We have to highlight our parliaments’ differences
The Scotland Office said the hub will “improve the work of the UK Government in Scotland, helping them deliver better services for Scottish people”.
The department stated: “It will enable closer collaboration between departments, smarter working, and use of the latest technology.
“The Hub will incorporate a Cabinet Room, allowing the UK Government Cabinet to meet in a purpose built room, the first time such a facility has been available in Scotland.”
It is understood that the move is part of a Westminster cost-cutting programme aimed at saving more than £2 billion of public cash over
20 years by shifting the workforce from existing offices to shared spaces.
The Scotland Office will vacate its current Melville Crescent premises to relocate by 2020.
READ MORE: Mundell accused of 'frittering away' taxpayer's money after spending reveal
The keys to the new building were formally handed over last month.
The regal moniker means two major new public sector buildings have been named after the current queen in recent years.
The South Glasgow University Hospital was renamed after the monarch in 2015 at a cost of £100,000, provoking public debate about the suitability of the change as well as the financial toll.
Commenting on the hub’s name, Scotland Secretary David Mundell (pictured below) stated: “I am absolutely delighted that Her Majesty has agreed to the naming of the new UK Government Hub in Edinburgh as Queen Elizabeth House.
“The royal title is hugely fitting, given the hub will be the focus of the UK Government’s work in Scotland, hosting 10 UK Government departments.
“The building will contain a dedicated Cabinet room, the first of its kind outside of London, and I very much look forward to inviting the Cabinet to meet in the building once it is open for business.”
He went on: “I am very grateful to Her Majesty for acknowledging the importance of the building by conferring the royal title.”
As well as Mundell’s offices, the capital hub will house the Competition and Markets Authority, the Office for Statistics Regulation, the Health and Safety Executive, the Office for Statistics Regulation, the Government Actuary’s Department and the Cabinet Office.
Work on a similar facility in Glasgow is also under way.
It will be the first Westminster centre of its kind in the city and a second will also be created.
The Scotland Office said the UK Government is “leading the way in regional regeneration”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel