HC Deb 28 November 1972 vol 847 cc227-8
14. Mr. Eadie

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the current plans for housing Inland Revenue administration in Scotland.

Mr. Nott

It is planned to set up a computer centre in Cumbernauld to carry out routine work in connection with tax collection and with Schedule D, corporation tax and capital gains tax assessments, and to continue the process of moving to Edinburgh some of the PAYE work now done in London.

Mr. Eadie

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, Scotland is not sharing in office expansion? Is he further aware that there is serious unemployment among white-collar workers in Scotland? Can he tell the House why it seems to be the policy of the Government for the headquarters of various Government organisations to be centred in and around London?

Mr. Nott

I can tell the hon. Gentleman that over 20 per cent. of all Government jobs generally so far dispersed have gone to Scotland and that of those planned to be dispersed over the next period 43 per cent. will go to Scotland. This may not bring a great deal of pleasure to some of the hon. Member's hon. Friends.

Mr. Edward Taylor

Will my hon. Friend agree that while more needs to be done the Government have a magnificent record in dispersing offices to Scotland and providing a lot more jobs? Can he tell us how many jobs are involved, what is to come and how many are in the pipeline?

Mr. Nott

I cannot immediately tell my hon. Friend the total number of jobs that have gone to Scotland under the Government's measures. Since dispersal was first started in 1963 under the previous Conservative Government Scotland has had an enormous share of that dispersal. I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks because Scotland has done extremely well.

Mr. Buchan

When the hon. Gentleman refers to 43 per cent., we are entitled to know that it is 43 per cent. of what. Secondly, is he aware that the one clearly new Government Department so far created—the Intervention Board for Agriculture—far from going to the development areas, it is to be situated 30 miles from the Palace of Westminster?

Mr. Nott

In dispersal policy it is necessary to balance the economy of operation of a particular Department with regional policies. The Hardman Committee is now considering all these matters and will make its report in due course. Obviously, the centres of these Departments will have to remain in London but Scotland has done very well.

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