Kentigern House in the Anderston area of the city is used by departments, including pay and pensions.

The 23-year-old building is on the market for less than £50million as MoD chiefs try to raise cash. The plan, however will cost the taxpayer tens of millions of pounds more in the long run as the Government will rent the building back for the next two decades.

The new owners would receive £70.2m in rent from the MoD over 20 years with interest adding another £1m-£2m over the period.

The details were revealed by defence minister Kevan Jones in an answer in the House of Commons to a question by Ayrshire MP Katy Clark.

Ms Clark asked how much the sale would raise and what the long-term costs to the public purse will be.

Mr Jones revealed the complex is advertised at offers in excess of £47.4m and a market rent of £3.51m per year would be paid on the lease with a fixed 2% annual increase adding at least £70,000 a year.

Mr Jones added: “There are no other additional costs anticipated.”

Kentigern House was custom built for the Mod costing £19m and opened in 1986 to house around 1500 staff in a relocation from London.

The distinctive stepped building is a military data centre housing departments including army records and a NATO logistics records department.

The MoD said when it was put on the market it was selling Kentigern House to unlock capital for spending in the defence estates.

The amount of rent offered in return for the sale was not initially disclosed.

The building in Argyle Street and Brown Street was valued at around £57m two years ago at the height of the property boom before prices slumped.

The plan has been criticised by an opposition MP in Glasgow.

Glasgow East SNP MP John Mason said: “Not content will selling off the family silver, the UK Government now expect us taxpayers to rent it back at twice the price.

“This is Labour’s real Glasgow rip-off, and the UK Government must be held to account.”