HC Deb 02 December 1974 vol 882 cc1106-7
33. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is now the total estimate of Civil Service jobs to be transferred to Scotland.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

As a result of decisions on the Hardman review announced on 30th July, some 7,000 posts from the Ministeries of Defence and Overseas Development are to be dispersed to Glasgow. A further 1,890 posts are still to be moved as a result of earlier decisions including the dispersal of the National Savings Bank to Glasgow. These figures do not include posts to be established in Scotland as a result of the policy of locating new offices away from London wherever possible.

Mr. Hamilton

I welcome that transfer, but will my hon. Friend assure us that the Government will consider the possible dispersal of other jobs in public departments of all kinds, including the headquarters of nationalised industries? Will he look further at the dispersal not only to Glasgow but to other parts of Scotland, like the new town of Glenrothes, which I think is the only new town in Scotland which does not have this kind of job and desperately needs it?

Mr. Morris

I recognise my hon. Friend's continuing interest in this subject. The Government have under active consideration the encouragement of nationalised industries to disperse their staffs from London in keeping with Government policy. As for the dispersal to places other than Glasgow in Scotland, the Government's decisions on dispersal have to take into account, first, the requirements of Departments in terms of communication and staff management, and, second, regional policy. On both those criteria, Glasgow's case is outstanding.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

Will the Minister assure us that he will not be deterred from this excellent policy of dispersing jobs for Scotland by the apparent increase in talk of separatism? What precisely would happen to these 10,000-odd jobs in the event of Scotland's becoming independent? Would they all have to be dispersed back?

Mr. Morris

The Government's policies on devolution will in no way effect the proposals and recommendations of the Hardman Committee in that regard.