§ 136. Mr. BeithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on progress towards the dispersal of more Civil Service posts from the London area to other regions.
§ Mr. BrookeThe centrally directed dispersal programme affecting 5,900 posts announced in 1979 is virtually complete, and over 6,000 further posts have been relocated from the south-east at departmental initiative.
Departments are now observing Treasury guidelines to review their work locations, with a view to relocating at sites offering easier labour markets and increased cost-effectiveness. With regard to this phase of the Government's relocation policy, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 December 1988, at column 414, to my hon. Friend, the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham).