National Steel Corporation (Head Office)

HC Deb 04 April 1967 vol 744 cc1-2W

Mr. Donald Anderson

asked the Minister of Power if he will direct the National Steel Corporation to site its headquarters in a part of the United Kingdom like South Wales which is both part of a development area and one of the principal centres of steelmaking activity.

Mr. Marsh

No. The Government have accepted a recommendation by the Organising Committee that the head office of the National Steel Corporation should be in London. As many as possible of the supporting staff and staff engaged in providing common services will, however, be located outside London, and the Organising Committee hope that it will be possible in due course to reduce the number of steel industry staff in London substantially below the present figure of 1,700. The head offices of the groups into which the industry will be reorganised will be located in the steel-producing areas.