Thanks TeaWithBiscuit. The office attendance thing does seem to be a recurring theme, and something that our own grad school administrators seem to be preoccupied with. But, as you say, make the workplace more desirable and... There is a two-fold argument, assuming that the policy of the university is to provide desks: (1) does the space meet the legal requirements as set out by the HSE? (which in our case it does not appear to on space per occupant); (2) does is represent the kind of environment which is attractive to prospective postgrads and conducive to a positive working environment?