§ Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is now able to make an announcement about the future location of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive.
§ Mr. BoothThe Government intend that a substantial proportion of the London-based posts of the Health and Safety Executive should be dispersed and that the main destination should be an area of high unemployment. We consider that about 1,000 posts could be dispersed, and having carefully considered other areas of high unemployment, many of which have strong claims, we have concluded that Merseyside, where there is a Crown building in course of construction at Bootle, would be the most suitable location. This has been conveyed to the Health and Safety Commission who have been asked to prepare detailed proposals in consultation with the trade unions representing the staff.
The Government have concluded that it would be in the best interest of safety, health and welfare policy to keep the Commission itself and a sufficient supporting staff in London to ensure close and continuous co-operation with the many bodies with which it has to work.