Mr. Ted Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to transfer administrative staffs to Darlington; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CroslandI have approved proposals for the dispersal of Teachers Pensions and Salaries and Qualifications Branches from Canons Park, Middlesex, to Darlington. The move will not take place before 1968.
The number of posts involved will be about 350, of which more than 100 will be for executive grades. The other staff will be mainly clerical, sub-clerical and typing grades. No staff from the administrative class is employed at Canons Park.
I shall rely on local recruitment to assist in the staffing of the office, but in order to maintain continuity in the work of the branches it will be necessary to transfer a number of civil servants, particularly in the executive class.
I am grateful for the ready welcome which Darlington County Borough Council has given to my proposals and for their offers of help to transferred officers.