§ Mr. Costainasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will clarify the total number of posts which will be dispersed to Sheffield, Cardiff, Salisbury, Norwich and Southend, following his announcement of 26 July.
Mr. ChansonThe moves of the Manpower Services Commission to Sheffield, the Export Credits Guarantee Department to Cardiff and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas to Salisbury amount to nearly 2,500 posts. I regret that, in my statement to the House yesterday, I said that these moves would involve 2,600 posts. However, the moves by HM Customs and Excise to Southend and HM Stationery Office to Norwich amount to over 100 further posts, making a total for the five locations of about 2,600.