HC Deb 17 February 1977 vol 926 cc332-3W
Mr. Loveridge

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish particulars showing, by Departments, the number of civil servants it is proposed to transfer from London, their new working locations, when the moves will take place and be completed and the estimated costs involved.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The Government's programme for the dispersal of some 31,000 posts from London, following the Hardman Report, was announced

Department Approximate number of posts Location
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1,250 Merseyside
Agricultural Research Council 160 Merseyside
Civil Service Department 395 Norwich
265 Basingstoke
50 Sunningdale
H.M. Customs and Excise 500 Southend
Ministry of Defence* 5,000 Cardiff
6,000 Glasgow
Department of the Environment 1,160 Bristol
Countryside Commission 90 Cheltenham (completed in 1974)
Property Services Agency 3,000 Teesside
1,000 To be decentralised to Regional Headquarters
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 500 Merseyside
Department of Health and Social Security 500 Newcastle
980 Blackpool
Home Office 1,000 Merseyside
Natural Environment Research Council 190 Swindon
Ministry of Overseas Development 1,000 Glasgow
Office of Population Censuses and Surveys 500 Merseyside (Southport)
Science Research Council 380 Swindon
H.M. Stationery Office 380 Norwich
Departments of Trade and Industry 1,600 Cardiff and Newport
Laboratory of the Government Chemist 360 West Cumbria
Export Credits Guarantee Department 800 Cardiff
Manpower Services Commission 1,500 Sheffield
Health and Safety Commission To be decided To be decided
Inland Revenue To be decided To local offices
* Numbers subject to the result of the Defence Review.

It is at present expected that on average about half of these posts will be filled by civil servants transferred from London. The timing and costs of the moves are currently being reassessed in the light of the moratorium on new building starts announced at the end of last year.

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