§ Mr. Peter AtkinsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who took the decision to hold the EU Conference on Better Government in Manchester; when the decision was taken; and for what reason Manchester was chosen in preference to Newcastle upon Tyne. [34688]
§ Dr. David ClarkOn assuming office in May 1997, proposals were made to me for the UK Presidency Conference which was sponsored by my Department and took place on 8–10 March.
The conference venue had not been determined at that stage. Various possible venues were contemplated and I added Newcastle upon Tyne to that list. The list was narrowed down to Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne, and the former selected on 12 August 1997.
Permanent Civil Servants at 1 April 1997 (full-time equivalents) (i) Scotland (ii) London (iii) South-east All locations Responsibility level Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Non-Industrial staff SCS level 250 7 1,880 51 130 4 3,700 Level 6 550 11 1,420 30 420 9 4,800 Level 7 810 5 5,430 36 1,470 10 14,940 SEO level 1,420 6 6,030 27 2,900 13 22,660 HEO level 3,770 8 10,730 22 6,450 14 47,750 EO level 11,200 10 20,010 19 14,230 13 107,830 AO level 15,630 9 28,390 17 20,410 12 167,080 AA level 8,410 12 11,040 16 7,950 11 70,540 All non-industrial staff 42,040 10 84,930 19 53,960 12 439,310 Industrial staff 3,750 10 1,710 5 8,200 23 36,030 All staff 45,790 10 86,640 18 62,160 13 475,340