HC Deb 07 August 1972 vol 842 cc283-4W
74. Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make public the material submitted by the Railways Board in support of the Second Report on Organisation which he laid before Parliament on 21st April.

Mr. Peyton

No.

75. Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assurance has been received by his Department from the Railways Board regarding the 700 railway salaried staff at present employed in Bristol who will, respectively, move to Cardiff, remain in Bristol, be employed elsewhere and be made redundant;

  1. (2) in reaching his decision on the Railways Board proposals for restructuring its field organisation, what consideration he gave to the 17-page document submitted on behalf of 700 railway salaried staff in Bristol;
  2. (3) what consultations were held by his Department with the 700 railway salaried staff in Bristol before he gave his consent to the proposals from the Railways Board for restructuring its field organisation;
  3. (4) what assurance his Department has received from the Railways Board regarding the number of additional railway salaried staff who will be employed in area offices which will remain in Bristol, and the help this will give in minimising the effects on Bristol staff of the field organisation restructuring;
  4. (5) what assurances his Department has received from the Railways Board regarding the consideration given to the availability of housing to rent and buy, adequate schooling and satisfactory environment, in determining the creation of new territorial headquatrers for the field organisation restructuring.

Mr. Peyton

I took full account of the views of the representatives and members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, and of the Railways Board's assurances that they would do all they could to minimise disturbance and to help those affected.