§ Mr. Mike HallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government propose to continue to have separate Government offices for the North-West and Merseyside. [34328]
§ Mr. CabornWe have decided to merge the Government Offices for the North-West and Merseyside. Links between the Government Office and the proposed Regional Development Agency for the North-West will be simpler if they, like those in the rest of England, cover the same geographical area.
The intention is to establish the single Government Office by about October 1998. We will consult the unions before the merger takes effect. We intend the new Government Office, whose title will be the Government Office for the North-West, to retain premises in Manchester and Liverpool. The Liverpool office has a particularly important role in the administration of Objective 1 European funding and the associated programmes.