HL Deb 23 March 1989 vol 505 cc887-8WA
The Earl of Swinton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Where the office of the Director General of Water Services will be located.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)

After considering the nature of the work and the number of posts involved, we have decided that, subject to parliamentary approval of the Water Bill, the headquarters of the Water Services Offices should be located in Birmingham.

This location reflects the Government's policy of locating civil service work in areas offering advantages in terms of accommodation costs and labour supply conditions, including, where appropriate, areas which are the focus of regional and urban policies.

This new, non-ministerial government department is expected to employ some 80 civil servants, including the secretariats of the 10

English mental hospitals and units from 1956 to the latest convenient year.

Lord Henley

I am afraid the information the noble Lord has requested is not readily available—nor in comparable form—for years prior to 1970 without incurring disproportionate cost.

regionally based customer services committees proposed in the Water Bill.