§ 35. Mr. A. J. Irvineasked the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the transfer to the Ministry of Aviation and the War Office of responsibilities formerly belonging to the Ministry of Supply, what steps have been taken to ensure that staff of the Ministry of Supply, Derby House, Liverpool, will continue to be employed in Merseyside by the Ministry of Aviation or the War Office.
§ Sir E. BoyleOnly preliminary consideration has yet been given to the detailed reorganisation of the work formerly done in the Ministry of Supply; but there is no reason to expect that any of the staff concerned will cease to be employed in the Merseyside area.
§ Mr. IrvineI thank the Secretary to the Treasury for that reply. Will he have regard to the anxiety felt about this matter locally and continue to keep watch on it?
§ Sir E. BoyleYes. I am well aware of this anxiety, but it is expected that virtually all the staff will continue to work in Derby House.
§ 36. Mr. A. J. Irvineasked the Secretary to the Treasury what steps have been taken to ensure that the location of principal offices of Government Departments, with particular reference to the distribution of work formerly undertaken by the Ministry of Supply, shall take account of the desirability of providing employment in areas of relatively high unemployment.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe needs of areas of relatively high unemployment are kept well in mind whenever the location of new Government establishments has to be decided. The redistribution of the work formerly undertaken by the Ministry of Supply is not expected to involve the removal of any large blocks of staff.