§ Mr. McElhoneasked the Minister for Civil Service how many areas which were to secure Civil Service jobs under the dispersal programme have yet to secure any of these jobs apart from Glasgow.
§ Mr. ChannonMerseyside, Teesside and West Cumbria have yet to receive posts in the programme announced on 30 July 1974.
§ Mr. McElhoneasked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what is the estimated reduction in Civil Service jobs; and what effect this will have on the dispersal programme;
(2) whether he is now able to announce the results of the reappraisal of the dispersal programme.
§ Mr. ChannonMinisters are conducting a review of their activities and until this is complete the size of Civil Service staff savings will not be known. The possible effects of reductions in staff numbers are being taken into account during the reappraisal of the dispersal programme. As I advised my hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Mr. Patten), on 11 June, the Government hope to make an announcement about the reappraisal of the dispersal programme before the end of July.
§ Mr. McElhoneasked the Minister for the Civil Service how much public expenditure has been committed so far to the dispersal programme envisaged for Scotland.
§ Mr. ChannonExpenditure committed so far has mainly been confined to the purchase of sites at a cost of £3.45 million at Anderston and St. Enoch in Glasgow.
§ Mr. Mulleyasked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects to receive the results of the review of the Government's dispersal programme announced on 11 June.
§ Mr. ChannonThe Government hope to make an announcement before the end of July.