§ 38. Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects to have completed his study into the feasibility of dispersing Government departmental work more evenly throughout the country ; and if he will consider making an interim report on the results of this study, particularly in relation to the development areas, before the Summer Recess.
§ 40. Mr. Douglasasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the present basis of the Government's dispersal policy ; and if he will make a statement.
§ 41. Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister for the Civil Service what new criteria have 98W been established for the location of Government offices ; and if he will make a statement.
§ 42. Mr. Sheldonasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the implementation of Government policy on the dispersal of certain Government activities outside of London and the South-East.
§ Mr. Buchanasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the progress of his consideration of the dispersal of Government offices.
§ Mr. David HowellWe announced in the White Paper on the Re-organisation of Central Government (Cmnd. 4506) that we would undertake a systematic study of dispersal possibilities to determine how much headquarters work needs to be in London and where the remainder might best be re-located.
The review is now well under way. The main feature is an examination of communications, that is, the complex pattern of links between Ministers, Departments and Parliament on the one hand and between Departments and outside bodies on the other. The question of location will be considered in the light of the two main criteria identified in the White Paper—that is the efficiency and economy of operations and regional policy. The nature of the work under review, much of which has a high policy content, may make it more difficult to re-locate at a great distance from London, but development areas will be thoroughly considered alongside other places as the review proceeds.