HC Deb 16 July 1979 vol 970 cc407-11W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what calculations have been made by his Department of the balance of financial advantage between retaining the Manpower Services Commission in London and moving it to Sheffield.

Mr. Mayhew

Both the costs and savings which can be quantified in money terms and the costs and benefits which, while real and important, cannot be quantified in this way have been taken into account in considering whether this dispersal project should proceed.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the Manpower Services Commission are currently employed in the training centre at Ranmoor Hall in Sheffield.

Mr. Jim Lester

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are 51 members currently employed by it in the training centre at Ranmoor Hall in Sheffield.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what compensation will be payable to members of the staff of the Manpower Services Commission who have bought new homes in Sheffield, or have signed contracts to purchase houses there, if the Manpower Services Commission does not move to Sheffield;

(2) how many wives or husbands of staff of the Manpower Services Commission have given up employment in London in preparation for the move to Sheffield;

(3)what representations have been made to him about the schooling of children of staff of the Manpower Services Commission who will be moving to Sheffield.

Mr. Mayhew

The proposed move by the Manpower Services Commission to Sheffield is included in the Government reappraisal of dispersal announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department, on 11 June.

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. I recognise that some anxiety will exist during the period of the review.

A decision on the review has still to be taken and we should await the outcome. If the need should arise, the question of compensation would be for consideration by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department.

Notification about spouses' employment is not required in the Civil Service, and although the Manpower Services Commission is aware of two husbands and six wives who have given up employment in London in preparation for the move to Sheffield, there could be other cases of which it is unaware.

Representations about the effect of the dispersal review on the schooling arrangements for children of the staff of the MSC were received on the occasion when I met representatives of the recognised trade unions for the staff involved.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many separate buildings are currently occupied in London by the Manpower Services Commission;

(2) what are the terms of the leases of the buildings occupied in London by the Manpower Services Commission; and when these fall due for renewal.

Mr. Mayhew

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that its head office currently occupies space in 13 separate buildings in London.

For commercial reasons it is the practice of the Manpower Services Commission and the Secretary of State for the Environment not to divulge the terms of individual leases.

The 13 buildings currently occupied either wholly or in part by the Manpower Services Commission head office in London are held under the terms of nine leases with commercial landlords, two letters of agreement with the Crown Estates Commissioners and eight memoranda of terms with the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Of these 19 contractual agreements:

Renewal Dates
1 1979
2 1980
1 1981
1 1982
3 1983
3 1985

Eight may be terminated with six months' notice from either party to the memorandum of terms. The leases in respect of these buildings are held by the Secretary of State for the Environment under the terms of 11 leases of which:

Renewal Dates
1 1979
1 1980
3 1981
2 1988
1 1989
1 1992
2 1994

Mr. John Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what compensatory steps he will take to remedy the unemployment situation of husbands and wives of Manpower Services Commission staff who have given up their London jobs to accompany their spouses to Sheffield as part of the dispersal exercise if dispersal is now abandoned;

  1. (2) what compensation he will offer to Manpower Services Commission staff who 410 have bought houses in Sheffield as part of the dispersal exercise if the plans are dropped;
  2. (3)what arrangements he will make to ensure the adequate rehousing of Manpower Services Commission staff who have given up their London homes, whether rented or purchased, in anticipation of dispersal to Sheffield, if dispersal is now abandoned;
  3. (4)what compensatory steps he will take in respect of the children of Manpower Services Commission staff due to move to Sheffield as part of the dispersal exercise who may be disadvantaged by not retaining places at their present schools if dispersal is now abandoned.

Mr. Mayhew

The proposed move by the Manpower Services Commission to Sheffield is included in the Government reappraisal of dispersal which was announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department, on 11 June.

Staff have been advised that a review is under way and that they should not finalise commitments until the outcome is known. I recognise that some anxiety will exist during the period of the review.

A decision on the review has still to be taken and we should await the outcome.

If the need to obtain employment in London should arise the full services of the employment services division of the Manpower Services Commission will be available to help the spouses of the staff involved.

Staff who have already bought houses in Sheffield are entitled to the refund of expenses and the grant of allowances in accordance with the Civil Service pay and conditions code. If the plans are dropped and it is necessary for staff to return to London the same provisions will apply.

I recognise that the future education of heir children is of great concern to some of the staff involved. However, the nature and extent of the problem of retaining school places has not yet been established. If the problem arises I should wish to discuss the educational aspects with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

The question of any financial compensation in the above circumstances, including assistance with house search, is a matter for discussion with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department, who will no doubt wish to take into account the representations of the appropriate trade unions.