§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the number and location of Chessington Computer Centre, Civil Service College, HMSO, Occupational Health Service, Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency offices closed and the number of jobs lost or transferred as a result of agency work transferring from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom over the past five years; and if he will list the number and location of offices opened and jobs gained in Scotland as the result of agency work transferring to Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom over the same period. [19966]
§ Mr. HoramOf the agencies listed, only HMSO and the Occupational Health and Safety Agency have had offices in Scotland during the last five years. As the question concerns operational matters, I have asked the chief executives of HMSO and OHSA to reply direct to the hon. Member.
Letter from Paul Freeman to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 21 April 1995:
I have been asked to reply, in respect of HMSO, to your question tabled on 18 April (No. 196) regarding offices opened and closed and the numbers of jobs lost from and gained in Scotland.HMSO Scotland trades in a dynamic environment and provides a wide range of services to Scottish public sector customers from its South Gyle, Edinburgh, headquarters. The picture over the past five years shows a net gain of 13 jobs. The detail is as follows:
Posts Work transferred Jobs lost Bookshop Assistant 1 Standing orders for HMSO Books and the supply of non-Scottish titles to HMSO Agents transferred to our Publications Centre in London to obviate double-handling and service delays. Jobs gained Accountant and Assistant 2 Responsibilities devolved from Norwich HQ to increase local control of business operational decisions. Debt Management Staff 2 Information Systems Bureau Staff 5 Customers Services Staff 5 North of England office supplies order processing: closer proximity to customers. 14 No offices were opened or closed as a result of these changes, but three existing premises ie warehouse, printing press and offices were replaced by the new HQ building at South Gyle in 1993.
Letter from J. L. Gordon to Mr. Calum Macdonald, dated 24 April 1995:
I have been asked to reply to your question on behalf of Dr. McCloy, Chief Executive of the Agency, who is on sick leave.Since the Agency moved its Headquarters function from London to Edinburgh in 1989, to join the existing Regional Office, there have been no further moves into or out of Scotland.Prior to 1980, six (6) staff were based in Scotland, and the relocation of the Headquarters unit brought an additional nineteen (19) posts. Although OHSA is a relatively small agency the intervening period has seen a modest increase, including senior 410W posts, and the number of staff now based in Edinburgh is thirty-one (31) with a further medical officer due to take up post later this year. There is one post located in Glasgow.