§ 49. Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the progress to date of the arrangements for the dispersal of the Manpower Services Commission to Sheffield, both as regards the movement of staff, purchase of buildings and residential accommodation, and the construction of the new office building.
527W
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe proposed move by the Manpower Services Commission to Sheffield is included in the Government reappraisal of dispersal announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Civil Service on 11 June [Vol. 968, c.68]. Staff have been advised that a review is under way and that they should not enter into or finalise commitments until the outcome is known.
The new office building, Moorfoot House, is about one third completed and should be ready for occupation in mid 1981. The MSC also plans to construct some residential accommodations at its staff training centre at Ranmoor Hall. No contract has yet been placed and the matter is in abeyance pending the outcome of the Government's review.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the estimated loss of job opportunities in Sheffield if the plan to locate the headquarters of the Manpower Services Commission in the city is cancelled.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps have been taken to recruit staff locally for the new Manpower Services Commission headquarters in Sheffield.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the staff of the Manpower Services Commission have been firmly advised that they will be located in Sheffield when the new headquaters of the Commission now under construction in Sheffield is completed.
§ Mr. Albert Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Employment when the new headquarters for the Manpower Services Commission at Sheffield will be operative; and if redundancies in the service are likely.
§ Mr. Jim Lester, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2 July 1979, gave the following answer:
The proposed move by the Manpower Services Commission to Sheffield is included in the Government reappraisal of dispersal announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Civil Service on 11 June—[Vol. 968, c. 68].
528WThe Manpower Services Commission has planned to move its headquarters to Sheffield in stages over the period 1979 to 1983. Moorfoot House is expected to be completed in mid 1981. Staff dispersing before Moorfoot's completion were planned to be accommodated in temporary, leased accommodation.
Staff have been advised that a review is under way and that they should not enter into or finalise commitments until the outcome is known. Prior to this some 150 staff had been advised that their posts would be moving to Sheffield in the first stages of dispersal.
The possible loss of job opportunities in Sheffield is one of the issues being studied in the Government's review. It is not possible at this stage to give any firm figures. Some local recruitment has already begun and about 20 clerical staff have been selected.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the estimated unrequited loss to public funds if the move of the Manpower Services Commission headquarters to Sheffield is not carried through.
§ Mr. Jim Lester, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2 July 1979], gave the following answer:
The balance between costs which have been already incurred and estimated savings from not continuing with the move is one of the issues being studied in the Government's review. It is not possible at this stage to give any firm figures.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what total number of staff the new Manpower Services Commission building in Sheffield is designed to accommodate;
(2) what proportion of the new building for the Manpower Services Commission in Sheffield has been completed to date; and what expenditure has been irrevocably incurred;
(3) what is the estimated completion date for the new Manpower Services Commission building in Sheffield;
(4) what break clause or compensation clause is included in the contract for the new Manpower Services Commission building in Sheffield, in the event that the project is discontinued.
529W
§ Mr. Jim Lester, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2 July 1979], gave the following answer:
The building being constructed on the Moorfoot site in Sheffield is intended to house some 1,800 staff. It is about one-third completed and should be ready for occupation in mid 1981. It is not possible at this stage to give a figure for the extent of expenditure irrevocably incurred. This is one of the matters being studied by the current review. Expenditure on construction to date has been about £4 million. The contract for the construction provides for compensation in the event of a break in work on the basis of an assessment of expenditure incurred or committed and hardship caused to the contractors.