HC Deb 18 June 1973 vol 858 cc30-1W
50. Mr. Carmichael

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on his policy towards paragraph 14 in Appendix No. 10 of the Hardman Report.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

This paragraph appears in a series of general points which Sir Henry Hardman emphasises are his personal views. It needs to be read in the context of what goes before it where Sir Henry Hardman writes of the nature of London as the capital, as the single decision-taking centre of operation for United Kingdom issues. In this context Sir Henry Hardman argues that the existence of the Scottish and Welsh Offices cannot be used to demonstrate that United Kingdom Departments can operate as effectively outside as in London. When it comes to the formulation of United Kingdom policies, Sir Henry Hardman argues that London is the natural place for the headquarters of such Departments to be.

51. Mr. Doig

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many sites in Scotland were chosen as preferred receiving locations for investigation by Sir Henry Hardman.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Careful consideration was given to a number of locations in Scotland but the priority was given to Glasgow.

Mr. Ewing

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the report dealing with the dispersal of Civil Service jobs.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 13th June which sets out the Government's attitude towards the Report, Cmnd. 5322, on the dispersal of Government work from London.

Mr. Doig

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in view of the fact that Scotland has the highest rate of unemployed persons, whether he will press for a higher figure than 1,177 jobs for Scotland out of a total of 31,427 recommended for dispersal in the Hardman Report.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

As the Government have made clear in their covering statement to the Hardman Report, Cmnd. 5322, they are not committed to the precise scale or pattern of dispersal recommended by Sir Henry Hardman. Their decisions on his proposals, including those for Scotland, will be taken in the light of all the information presented in the report and on such evidence as is put before them in the process of consultation which has just begun.