§ 2.48 p.m.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will reconsider their decision to transfer the comprehensive guarantee division of the Export Credits Guarantee Department to Cardiff.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the department's move to Cardiff was announced in 1974 as part of the policy, which successive Administrations have reaffirmed, for moving some 30,000 Civil Service posts out of London. The present Government reviewed the policy as recently as last year. The decision then reached, and announced on 29th July, was to proceed with dispersal of these posts. They included those in the comprehensive guarantee group of divisions which, within the Export Credits Guarantee Department, were originally designated for dispersal by the Hardman Report in 1973. The Government see no grounds for further reconsideration of the decision.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the very high 1358 reputation of this division and the great services it renders to British exporters owe a good deal to their close contact with the various financial areas of expertise in the City of London? Is it not a fact that representations have been made to his right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade by the principal export finance houses asking him, for this reason, to cancel this exiling of the division to South Wales?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I acknowledge what the noble Lord said about the excellent service of these divisions, but the divisions of the Export Credits Guarantee Department which are concerned with all guarantees to banks, finance for major projects, bonds, foreign exchange guarantees and international affairs are all remaining in London; there will be no change in the conduct of negotiations on financial matters.
§ Lord BOYD-CARPENTERWould the noble Lord be good enough to answer the second part of my question, my Lords, as to whether the Secretary of State for Trade has had representations from the leading export finance houses and what he is proposing to say to them?
Lord ORAMYes, my Lords. My right honourable friend has been in touch with many bodies concerned with this matter and indeed there has not been the kind of objection to the proposals that might be implied from what the noble Lord has said. For example, the CBI has not opposed it, nor have the major banks. However, my right honourable friend is of course very willing to discuss these questions with any body which feels it has a particular problem in this matter.
§ Lord REIGATEHas the Advisory Council been consulted in this matter, my Lords?
Lord ORAMYes, my Lords. The Advisory Council of bankers and businessmen has been, and remains, closely in touch with the planning of this move and its implementation.
§ Lord LEATHERLANDMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend to ask the Government to accept our congratulations, despite what has been said in relation to 1359 this Question, on the fine increase in British exports that has taken place during the past year?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are always glad to receive congratulations from my noble friend, though he raises a wider question than the move of this particular division.
§ Lord ELTONMy Lords, did the Advisory Council agree with this proposal?