HC Deb 03 June 1965 vol 713 cc1946-7
19. Sir H. Studholme

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now state the estimated cost of the proposed new Regional Headquarters for the South-West at Bristol, the estimated annual cost of running it, and the number of extra civil servants required.

Mr. George Brown

The cost of the headquarters—[Horn. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—I hope that I make take the cheers for the arrival of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister as a joint greeting.

The cost of the headquarters will depend on negotiations now in progress. My Department will account for about 15 new staff.

Sir H. Studholme

Is not the First Secretary's Answer rather extraordinary? Would not one have thought that he, like any private organisation or industry not bolstered up by the taxpayer, would have gone into all these things most carefully before embarking on this scheme?

Mr. Brown

I gather that what the hon. Gentleman finds extraordinary about my Answer is that it was not the one which he thought I would make; but it is the accurate one.

Mr. Robert Cooke

Is it a fact that Bristol is the most expensive possible place to have this regional headquarters?

Mr. Brown

No, but we discussed the question of whether it should be in some other town in the South-West than Bristol the last time that I answered Questions. My view remains the same: that this is the proper place to put it.

Mr. Bessell

Will the right hon. Gentle, man bear in mind the reply which he gave when we last discussed this matter when he said that he would consider having a separate headquarters in Plymouth for the extreme South-West?

Mr. Brown

I do not think that I referred to a separate headquarters, but I said that I would consider a separate sub-regional organisation. That is in my mind—if it is the wish of the people in the South-West.