§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the possible impact on jobs at the National Giro on Merseyside of proposals to regionalise the organisation of National Giro.
§ Mr. TrippierRegionalisation of National Girobank is an operational matter for the Girobank management and the Post Office Board. However, I understand that the continued growth of Girobank's operation has led to an increase in employment at Bootle recently and Merseyside has already benefited from the opening of the bank's north west office in Liverpool. These moves are designed to secure the continuing growth of the bank on which future job prospects depend. I can add that the bank is in regular consultation with the trades unions in these developments.