§ 42. Mr. J. Harrisonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are laid down for consultation with the staffs of Government Departments before decisions are taken affecting the closing down of regional offices and the transfer of their staff to other regions.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanIt is for the head of the Department concerned to decide whether or not a regional office should be closed. The normal Whitley procedures apply. This means that the staff would always be consulted about the arrangements for putting any such decision into effect, but would not necessarily be consulted before the decision was reached.
§ Mr. HarrisonWill the Chancellor take note of the fact that recently the regional office of the Ministry of Works in Nottingham was closed and the staff abruptly informed that it was to be transferred to Birmingham? Does it not make a mockery of joint consultation when a decision is reached before consultation takes place?
§ Mr. MacmillanThat matter of a decision is surely a matter for the Government of the day, or for the Ministers concerned. What is important is that there should be full consultation and ample time for any transfer to take place without inconvenience to those concerned.