3.4 The future of the remaining properties has not yet been decided but the Home Office and the Office of Government Commerce are continuing to work together to ensure that best value for money is achieved from their disposal. The Home Office and the Office of Government Commerce both consider that retaining freeholds in the Westminster area could offer better value for money for Government as a whole rather than transferring the property to the private sector but that this would need to be tested as there is considerable demand from both the public and private sectors for office and residential space in the Westminster area. It is possible that the Home Office may need to retain some of its existing space as on present trends it is unlikely that all staff will be accommodated at 2 Marsham Street, but there are no firm proposals to do so at present. As noted earlier in this report the Home Office is progressing several studies which will confirm the numbers of staff that it considers it necessary should be employed in London in the longer term.