HC Deb 22 November 1994 vol 250 cc84-5W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the total employment cost of relocating regional headquarter staff to Durham.

Mr. Malone

Relocation costs, excess travel expenses and additional redundancy costs resulting from the relocation of the regional headquarters to Durham are estimated to total £694,875 over 10 years. The relocation is expected to yield an annual saving on staff business travel of approximately £90,000 per year. In addition, the running costs of accommodation will be reduced by £438,000 per year, compared with the current two sites, and the reduction in staff numbers to around 135 will save £4.7 million a year in employment costs.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the capital expenditure on the northern regional headquarters in Newcastle in each of the last five financial years.

Mr. Sackville

This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Greetham CBE, chairman of Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority, for details.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was(a) the total cost of relocating staff to Quarry house, Leeds and (b) the total cost of relocation.

Mr. Sackville

The total cost of relocating national health service executive and NHS Estates staff to Leeds was £11.76 million. The total cost of relocation was £74.02 million.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the estimated employment costs of reducing 200 jobs at Quarry house, Leeds.

Mr. Sackville

Costs will depend on the level of staff turnover over the next two and a half years and on the number and characteristics—age, grade, length of service—of staff who volunteer to take early retirement or early severance. They will be more than offset by the resulting savings.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the likely costs of the new regional head office in Durham; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Malone

The precise cost of a new office in Durham for Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority is currently under negotiation. The regional health authority expects this to be more than offset by the sale of the existing headquarters building in Harrogate.