HC Deb 22 January 1963 vol 670 cc5-6
5. Mr. Fletcher

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that, following his decision to transfer the Savings Certificate Division from Holloway to Dunham, none of the staff now engaged in London will be compulsorily transferred to Durham or will be subject to dismissal if they cannot agree to be transferred.

16. Mr. Lipton

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that there will be no compulsory transfer of staff to Durham from the Savings Certificate Division in London, and that staff not agreeing to be transferred will not be dismissed.

Miss Pike

Many posts will be filled by local recruitment at Durham, but a nucleus of experienced staff must move with the work. My right hon. Friend cannot go as far as the hon. Members suggest, but I can assure them that every effort will be made to meet this need with volunteers and to fill vacancies in other Government establishments in the London area from those who remain.

Mr. Fletcher

I appreciate the desirability of transferring this Department to Durham, but does not the hon. Lady agree that, in view of the unemployment situation in the North-East, it cannot be sensible to transfer a number of people from London to the North-East against their will? Can she not say that there will not be any dismissals of existing London staff who find themselves unable, or who find it inconvenient, to go to the North-East?

Miss Pike

Only a very small number, a nucleus of about 300 of the staff, must go in order to maintain the efficiency of the Department. The transfer is to go on over a period of three or four years, but in order to maintain efficiency and train local people we must have a nucleus of trained people. However, to judge from the volunteers coming forward at the moment, I think I can assure the hon. Gentleman that it will be a very small number who may have to go against their wishes.

Mr. Lipton

Can the hon. Lady say what percentage of the total number of staff is this nucleus of 300 or 400 to which she has referred? Can she not at least give an undertaking that there will not be any avoidable hardship, especially in cases where houses have been bought on mortgage, or where the education of children has reached a critical stage? Can she give an assurance that those factors will be taken into account?

Miss Pike

The number of staff involved is more than 2,000, and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that every step will be taken to avoid hardship of any kind.