HC Deb 22 February 1988 vol 128 cc74-5W
50. Mr. Cran

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many divisions within his Department have been relocated out of London since 1979; what plans he has for further relocation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

About 80 per cent. of the Department's present staff of 14,000 is located outside London and, where practicable, work is already carried out in regional and local offices. In 1987, seven posts dealing with policy on driver licensing and vehicle taxation moved from London to Swansea and six posts in the vehicle inspectorate technical training school moved from Stanmore to Bristol. Some 20 posts from the vehicle inspectorate's workshops and stores at Borehamwood will move to Bristol later this year. The Department keeps the question of what further blocks of work it might be cost effective to relocate under continuous review.