§ Mr. HoltTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many additional jobs in the Civil Service have been created in the north in the past three years.
§ Mr. BrookeDetails of all the additional jobs created by Departments in the past three years in the regions are not held centrally, hut during 1987–88 the Department of Health and Social Security created over 500 new jobs at its Newcastle central office. In addition, 30 jobs are being created in Darlington this year by the Department of Education and Science. The total of Civil Service staff in post in the northern region at 1 April 1987 was 33,600.
For the future, Departments will be encouraged to consider all suitable locations for the relocation of existing work and the placement of new work, including those in the north, on the basis mentioned in my answer on 31 March, at columns 610–11, to my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Arnold). They will in suitable cases announce specific plans as and when these are prepared.