§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister for the Civil Service why, when there is a dispersal of civil and public service staff, such dispersal always takes place at the expense of the Greater Manchester area; what account is taken of the hardship caused; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisSince 1963, over 2,700 Civil Service posts belonging mainly to Inland Revenue London provincial district offices, have been dispersed from London to Manchester. In addition, the Equal Opportunities Commission has been established there. If my hon. Friend has in mind the consideration being given by the Ministry of Defence to the possibility of transferring work from Cheadle Hulme to Glasgow, this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, but I understand that no decision on this has yet been taken.
The Government have given an assurance that there will be no redundancies among non-mobile staff as a result of the 523W dispersal programme announced in July 1974, and that as far as possible the dispersal of mobile staff will be on a voluntary basis. A central unit has been set up for the purpose of fulfilling these undertakings.