§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the purpose and nature of the new interdepartmental office in Plymouth; how many civil servants will be working there full time; the extent to which they liaise directly with London; and the nature of their remit for co-operation with local councils and business organisations.
§ The Earl of ArranThe new Government Office in Plymouth will operate jointly with the existing office in Bristol to provide integrated services from the Departments of Environment, Trade and Industry, Transport and Employment and with the Home Office and Department for Education also represented. It will work in partnership with the people of the South West to maximise the competitiveness, prosperity and quality of life of the region.
The precise arrangements for the new Plymouth Office are currently being worked out and it is likely that around 70 staff will be based there, most of whom will transfer from Bristol. A new Director for Devon and Cornwall has been appointed and the Regional Director for the South West will be based partly in Plymouth. These arrangements will ensure that Devon and Cornwall interests will be represented directly to London. Special emphasis will be placed on improved co-operation with local authorities and business, such as those programmes for increasing business competitive-ness, European funding and the single Regeneration Budget.