§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in theOfficial Report details of those sections of his Department which have been relocated in the last five years, indicating the sites to which they have been moved; whether consideration is being given to future relocation of London-based sections of his Department to sites outside London; and whether the central Borders of Scotland has been identified as a suitable area for any future moves.
§ Mr. Chris PattenAround 38 per cent. of the Department of the Environment's staff of approximately 6,000 (excluding the Property Services Agency) are already located outside London, 24 per cent. outside the south-east. The Department's eastern regional office moved from London to Bedford last year. Staff working for the newly-established Historic Royal Palaces Agency have recently moved from central London to Hampton Court palace.
Information about the Department's review currently being carried out of the scope for further relocation was given in reply to my hon. Friend, the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 21 July (Official Report, Vol. 157, col. 785.)
Apart from the Property Services Agency, the Department's work is principally concerned with policies affecting England. We have not, therefore, considered locating posts in Scotland.
Seventy per cent. of the PSA's staff of 22,800 are already located outside London, 45 per cent. outside the south-east. The PSA is being restructured in preparation for privatisation, and the scope for further relocation is being examined through the business planning process.