§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to relocate his Department's offices to the north-west of England; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. PattenOver 1,500 posts in my Department (including the Property Services Agency) are already located in the north-west. Eleven posts in the Department's rent charges unit will shortly be transferred to Manchester. Information about the Department's review of the scope for further relocation was given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Beverley (Mr. Cran) on 26 July at column785.