§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the reasons for the proposed removal of the Property Services Agency headquarters from Croydon to Teesside; how long ago the headquarters were removed to Croydon from London; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarksDispersal of the bulk of the headquarters of the Property Services Agency to Teesside was one of the proposals put forward by Sir Henry Hardman in his alternative "regional" solution for dispersal of more Government work from London. The proposal was adopted by the Government and included in their 10-year programme for dispersal, announced in 1974, which was designed to improve the range and quality of employment opportunities especially in assisted areas.
The headquarters directorates at present in Croydon moved there between 1969 and 1973. It is unlikely that the work of all these directorates will move to Teesside.
§ Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many civil servants are currently employed at the Property Services Agency headquarters at Croydon; and what is his estimate of the number of those who will decline to remain so employed when the headquarters is removed to Teesside.
§ Mr. Marks2,580. Dispersal to Teesside is not scheduled to begin until the 1980s, and it is not possible to estimate how many staff who will then be serving in mobile grades in Croydon, will wish to seek other posts to avoid moving with the work.