§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in theOfficial Report details of those sections of his Department which have been relocated in the last five years, indicating the sites to which they have been moved; whether consideration is being given to future relocation of London-based sections of his Department to sites outside London; and whether the central borders of Scotland has been identified as a suitable area for any future moves.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardFull details of all moves of sections of the Department over the last five years are not available but they include the following where sizeable numbers of staff are involved:
- 1985—Legal Aid work transferred to Preston
- 1987—Retirement pension work transferred to Newcastle upon Tyne
- 1987—Agency benefit work transferred to Newcastle upon Tyne
- 1987—Departmental records work transferred to Nelson, Lancashire
- 1988—Development work on the computerisation of social security benefits transferred to Lytham St. Annes.
My right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State announced on 16 January 1989 that 1,060 jobs in total would be relocated from London to Glasgow, Wigan and Belfast. This relocation is under way and should be completed during the summer of 1991. The sites for relocation have been chosen in line with the Government policy on relocation announced by my right hon. Friend the former Paymaster General in March 1988 taking into account labour markets, value for money and increases in efficiency.
Under this policy my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State also announced on 23 June 1988 that he was considering a report on the possibility of moving some of the Department's HQ work away from London. We hope to make an announcement about this shortly.