§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any decision has been taken about the relocation of Customs and Excise headquarters work from London and Southend.
1395WA
The Earl of CaithnessIn June 1988 the Board of Customs and Excise set up an internal review to examine the scope for relocating headquarters work from London and the South East. The review team's report is published today and a copy has been placed in the Library.
Her Majesty's Government and the Board of Customs and Excise have decided to accept the review team's recommendation that a substantial proportion of headquarters work should be relocated. Altogether some 1,700 posts will be transferred out of the South East, and around 250 posts transferred from London to Southend. The number of headquarters posts in London will be reduced by about 40 per cent. to around 900, and in Southend by about 30 per cent. to 2,100. The relocation moves are planned to take place in stages over three years beginning in the autumn of 1990.
Final decisions have not yet been taken on a site or sites for relocation; the Board of Customs and Excise intend to consult with staff and the departmental trade union side before reaching a final conclusion early in the New Year. The board's present view, however, is that the majority of the relocated posts might be sited in Liverpool, where a small part of the department's headquarters is already sited, and in Manchester.
These changes are expected to produce significant benefits both in terms of costs and of staffing. Accommodation costs in particular will be reduced, and the opportunities for recruitment and retention of staff will be substantially improved. At least 1,300 jobs will be available for filling locally, which will boost the economy of those areas eventually chosen for relocation.