HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc31-2W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, further to the statement of the Minister for Industry and Information Technology on Monday 21 December he will (a) list the information technology centres to be established and (b) give the estimated opening date of each centre.

Mr. Wakeham

The locations of the first 30 information technology centres were listed in the Vote Office when my hon. Friend made the announcement on 21 December 1981. The areas are as follows:

  • Information Technology Centres
  • Dundee
  • Inverclyde
  • Birmingham
  • Coventry
  • Leicester
  • Telford
  • Walsall
  • Liverpool (2)
  • Wirral
  • Warrington
  • Manchester (2)
  • Salford
  • Southwark
  • Camden
  • Haringay
  • Hackney
  • Bristol (2)
  • Portsmouth
  • Sunderland
  • Gateshead
  • Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  • Wales, Clwyd
  • Leeds
  • Sheffield
  • Knowsley
  • Sefton
  • Brixton

These first 30 centres will be opening over the next one to four months as premises are prepared and staff recruited. Further centres beyond the first 30 will be set up in the course of this year.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in respect of each of the proposed information technology centres, he will publish in the Official Report (a) the number of staff already appointed, (b) the estimated total staff which will be required, (c) the pay scales of staff appointed and to be appointed, indicating where these differ from existing pay scales, such as the Burnham scale, (d) the previous occupations of the staff members appointed and (e) in the case of teachers, indicate whether or not they previously taught in maintained schools.

Mr. Wakeham

The details asked for are not available since applications for information technology centres are currently being processed. Each centre will be responsible for recruiting its own staff which is likely to comprise about seven people. Salary levels will show some variation reflecting regional rates and agreements negotiated by sponsors.