§ 4. Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Government Departments and public bodies are situate in Northern Ireland, other than those used for local administration; and if he will state the total number of persons employed.
§ Mr. GreenAll the Government offices and public bodies in Northern Ireland are concerned in some way with local matters. There are no dispersed offices there.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsIs my hon. Friend satisfied with this position?
§ Mr. GreenAs I think my hon. Friend knows, we always keep under real review the possibility of getting some central Government work into Northern Ireland, and this we will certainly go on doing. I regret very much that it has not yet been possible to do it.
§ 5. Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will inform the Government of Northern Ireland when Government Departments and public bodies are considering transferring offices to, or opening offices in, new locations as part of the Government policy on distribution of offices.
§ Mr. GreenThe Treasury was in close touch with the Government of Northern Ireland at the time of Sir Gilbert Flemming's dispersal inquiry last year. We have the situation there well in mind and will certainly inform them whenever there might be prospects of moving Government work, or opening new Government offices, there.